Relief work in veterinary medicine has stopped being a niche career path.

In a 2022 VIN News Service survey of 2,219 veterinary professionals:

  • 7% had already shifted to relief work or were in the process of shifting
  • 14% were seriously considering it
  • 31% said they'd at least daydreamed about making the move

If you've never worked with relief professionals before, it can feel daunting. This guide covers the benefits, how to hire well, and what actually determines a relief professional's rate.

Why Hiring Relief Professionals Pays Off

  • Quality PTO for your team. The mental and physical health of staff is a practice's most important asset. Hiring relief professionals so your core team can take real time off, whether vacation, CE, sick days, or parental leave, is a wise investment. Without relief coverage, associates end up picking up extra shifts, creating a cycle of burnout and resentment.
  • Coverage during unexpected absences. Life happens. Having a familiar pool of local relief professionals means you can fill shifts quickly when someone has a sick kid, a death in the family, or gives sudden notice.
  • Extra hands during busy seasons. Some practices experience seasonal upticks that don't justify a full-time hire. Relief professionals are perfect here since there is no long-term commitment or associated benefits costs.
  • Help while searching for a permanent hire. Some relief professionals work relief specifically to test practice cultures before committing. Others can provide coverage so you can take your time finding the right permanent team member.
  • Preparation for growth. If your practice is growing but you're not sure you can support another full-time vet or tech, hire relief for a few months to test the waters and identify any workflow adjustments needed.
  • Fresh ideas and an unbiased perspective. Relief professionals work across many practices and bring a wealth of cross-pollinated knowledge: case management approaches, treatment tips, communication strategies, workflow ideas, and more.

How to Actually Hire Relief Professionals

  • Plan ahead when you can. Interview relief professionals before you need them, with a long-term relationship in mind. Hire for a few trial shifts so you know exactly who to call when you have urgent coverage needs.
  • Work with relief companies. Two models exist: staffing agency (the company employs the relief worker; higher rates but more vetting) and matchmaker/job board (you own the relationship; more flexibility, more legwork).
  • Write irresistible job posts. Make your title stand out by adding 1-3 compelling features: "great vet:tech ratio," "we get you home on time," or "we treat relief vets like part of the team." Be flexible on dates, describe expectations in detail, and highlight what makes your practice special.
  • Put the relationship in writing. A verbal understanding rarely survives its first disagreement. As we've covered in detail, a relief agreement should spell out scope of work, schedule, compensation, and a clear cancellation policy before the first shift, not after a canceled one.

3 Ways Relief Professionals Help Beyond Filling a Shift

  1. Add new products and services. Learn relief professionals' areas of expertise and leverage them. Use them to research new products or services before you invest in a full rollout.
  2. Start offering house calls or telehealth. Trusted relief vets or techs can represent your practice for house calls or teletriage, increasing client satisfaction and revenue without adding to your core team's workload.
  3. Update your protocols. Relief professionals see dozens of practices and develop a mental collage of what works best. Tap into that knowledge before investing in expensive workflow changes.

Why Relief Professional Rates Run Higher

Relief professionals are independent contractors, so their rates run higher than W2 staff. They're covering their own:

  • Liability insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Licensing
  • Professional memberships
  • Continuing education
  • Student loan payments
  • Accounting services
  • Equipment
  • Self-employment taxes

What Determines a Relief Professional's Rate

Rates typically shift based on:

  • Geography and travel, since cost of living and driving distance both factor in.
  • Services offered, with consultations, surgery, and specialty work priced differently.
  • Shift differentials, including holidays, overnights, and emergency coverage.
  • Level of experience, the same way it would for a full-time hire.
  • Licensing complexity, if the relief professional covers multiple states or holds DEA registration.

A relief relationship works best when both sides treat it like the professional partnership it is: clear expectations up front, a written agreement, and room for the flexibility that made relief work attractive to that professional in the first place.