Culture of Care
Human Well-Being

Supporting personnel resilience, safety, and engagement. 

How it Connects to a Greater Culture of Care:

  • A supported team implements protocols with care and precision, improving welfare and data quality. 
  • Recognizing signs of compassion stress and fatigue early proactively supports employee well-being 
  • Reducing burnout and stress strengthens institutional capacity to maintain welfare standards. 
  • Open communication channels foster transparency, encourage feedback, and drive continuous improvement. 

Compassion Fatigue Resiliency

We have a variety of resources aimed specifically at compassion fatigue resiliency in our Compassion Fatigue Resiliency Hub, including Self-Care resources and Classes & Consultants

Human-Animal Bond

Understanding the Human-Animal Bond

The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial relationship between people and animals, influenced by behaviors essential to the mental, physical, and social health of both.
In research settings, this bond is complex.

Caregivers and researchers often balance two roles:

  • Providing care and husbandry
  • Performing procedures that may cause discomfort or lead to euthanasia

This dual role can create emotional and ethical challenges for staff, impacting their sense of connection and wellbeing.

Grief in a Research Environment

Grief is a natural response to loss or change, yet it is rarely acknowledged in research environments.

Types of Grief

  • General Grief: Sadness or distress after a loss (e.g., animal death, team changes).
  • Disenfranchised Grief: Grief that is unacknowledged by others or society.
    Examples:
    • Loss of a valued team member
    • Reduction of an animal colony
    • Program or service cuts
  • Anticipatory Grief: Grief that begins before the loss occurs.
    Example: Seeing signs of upcoming euthanasia.

How to Navigate Grief

  • If you are grieving:
    • Seek support from team members or wellness resources.
  • If you notice someone grieving:
    • Offer care and acknowledgement

Cognitive & Emotional Dissonance

  • Cognitive Dissonance: Discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs or values.
    Examples:
    • Veterinarians approving invasive procedures while upholding welfare standards
    • Different care standards for research vs. companion animals
  • Emotional Dissonance: When expressed emotions differ from felt emotions.
    Impact: Can lead to stress, guilt, or moral injury.

Relationships with Staff and Researchers

Strategies for Connection

  • Science Talks:
    • Help animal care teams understand research impact and outcomes.
  • Team Boards:
    • Share staff info (name, role, hobbies, favorite enrichment) to build familiarity.
  • Recognition & Accountability:
    • Include respectful behavior in evaluations
    • Offer awards for positive contributions
    • Hold researchers and staff accountable for disrespectful behavior toward people or animals

Feedback & Communication

  • Provide anonymous and non-anonymous feedback options (e.g., QR codes linking to surveys).
  • Encourage peer-to-peer support.

Supervisor Development

Staff Wellness

Staff Growth and Development Opportunities

  • Continuing Education
    • Access to webinars, workshops, and certifications (e.g., AALAS Learning Center).
    • Tuition reimbursement programs for relevant courses.
  • Growth Paths
    • Clear career progression charts for technicians.
    • Mentorship programs to support professional development.

Staff Appreciation

  • Employee of the Month
    • Highlight achievements on the website and in team meetings.
  • Dedicated Appreciation Times
    • Celebrate events like AALAS Tech Week with activities and recognition.
  • Peer and Supervisor Kudos
    • Periodically collect kudos and share personalized notes with employees.
    • Peer Kudos Boards
      • Virtual boards (e.g., Teams, Slack) or physical boards in common areas.

Allow Autonomy and Control Where Possible

  • Choice in Animal Euthanasia
    • Provide options for staff to opt-in or opt-out when feasible.
  • Work Schedules and Organization
    • Flexible scheduling and task rotation to reduce burnout.
  • Animal Enrichment
    • Encourage staff input on enrichment strategies for research animals.
  • Continuing Education Opportunities
    • Allow staff to select topics that align with their interests and career goals.

You Are Not Alone

Not One More Vet offers worldwide care to veterinary professionals, recognizing the toll of working alongside animals in all capacities.  NOMV was born from the recognition elevated suicide within the veterinary world. 

Justify is a new and one-of-a-kind organization that focusses on the human cost of animal experimentation and the uniquely intimate, often painful bond between lab workers and the animals they try to care for. They build space for supporting the traumatic experiences of animal care workers and researchers, acknowledging the deeply and morally injurious parts of animal care work in this setting.  

See Next

Openness & Transparency