Addressing Employee Disengagement: A Vital Concern for Dental Practices

Executive Summary

Running a dental practice comes with its challenges, but one that isn’t often talked about is employees being paid while doing little to no work. A recent case raised the question—at what point does disengagement become wage theft?

This article looks at how a practice owner discovered an employee spending hours each day on personal activities instead of doing her job. It also outlines ways to prevent this issue, set clear expectations, and ensure your team is actually contributing to the success of your practice.

Introduction

Most practice owners focus on patient care, systems, and profitability, but what about the people you trust to run the day-to-day?

A dental practice recently hired a new team member. She made repeated mistakes, and instead of improving, she spent hours each day reading eBooks and browsing the internet while being paid. When the issue was raised, she saw no problem with it—she believed it could be “worked through.”

This situation raises an important question: When does low productivity cross the line into wage theft?

Wage Theft or Just Disengagement? Has Work Ethic Changed?

There’s been plenty of discussion online about generational differences in the workplace. Memes comparing Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Zers are everywhere, but is there any truth to them?

In this case, the employee didn’t take responsibility, despite the practice’s values being made clear at the interview and onboarding. The owner was left wondering—have attitudes towards work changed?

The Cost to Your Practice

A disengaged employee isn’t just frustrating—it has real consequences:

• Financial Loss – If someone is getting paid but not working, it directly affects the bottom line.

• Team Impact – When others see a colleague not pulling their weight, it causes frustration.

• Patient Experience – Every role in a practice contributes to patient care. If one person isn’t doing their job, it affects the entire workflow.

• Wasted Opportunities – There was plenty of valuable work this employee could have done if she had actually been engaged in her role.

How to Prevent This in Your Practice

1. Do Thorough Pre-Employment Checks

• Always verify references to confirm that what’s on the resume is accurate.

• Ask previous employers about the candidate’s actual job role—did it match what they claimed?

• Find out if they would rehire the person—this can reveal a lot.

Skipping this step can be costly, as the wrong hire can drain both time and resources.

2. Be Clear from Day One

• Set expectations at the interview and reinforce them in onboarding.

• Define each role properly so there’s no confusion about responsibilities.

3. Regularly Review Performance

• If mistakes keep happening, don’t just assume it’s a training issue—look deeper.

• Make sure employees know their work is being monitored and valued.

4. Use the Right Systems

• Practice management software and productivity tracking can help spot patterns early.

• Set benchmarks so it’s clear what’s expected.

5. Deal with Issues Early

• If an employee isn’t engaged, address it quickly.

• Tie it back to values—if they don’t align, it’s better to part ways sooner rather than later.

Conclusion

A strong team is essential to running a successful practice. When someone isn’t pulling their weight, it affects not just profitability but the whole team. Doing proper reference checks before hiring can prevent these issues before they even start. If you’re noticing signs of disengagement in your practice, the sooner it’s addressed, the better.

How Aligned Business Consulting Can Help

At Aligned Business Consulting, we help dental and specialist practice owners implement efficient systems that drive profitability, enhance patient experience, and reduce daily stress.

With over 25 years of industry experience, we provide actionable strategies to help your practice thrive in today’s competitive landscape. 

Need expert guidance on your results? Book a complimentary 30-minute virtual coffee chat here to discuss the next steps.

For enquiries, email us at: michelle@alignedbusinessconsulting.com.au

To learn more about how I can help your dental practice, visit my services.

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This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions represented in this blog are personal and belong solely to the blog owner and do not represent those of people, institutions or organisations that the owner may or may not be associated with in a professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club organisation, company, or individual.