Will never work for them again - Veterinary Assistant VCA Employee Review

1.0
Apr 27, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Discounts on veterinary services, can bring pets to work, flexible hours

Cons

Pay is a joke. I took a minimum wage job as a veterinary assistant with the promise of a raise/pay differential when I went to overnights, which was my goal. After 2 weeks of "training," I was put on the night shift. It took me 7 months of repeatedly emailing management and trying to get them to meet with me before they gave me the pay I was promised when I signed the new hire paperwork. Training was a joke as well. I was thrown in there to sink or swim. I had no previous veterinary experience and it was overwhelming. A lot of things, I just figured out on my own because no one bothered to/was assigned to instruct me properly or explain why things were done a certain way or what the purpose of anything was. Most of the time when I would ask questions, I would get irritated responses to my lack of knowledge instead of people trying to teach me/help me grow. Doctors would be extremely rude and sometimes even yell at me for not knowing things that I'd never been taught. It was extremely frustrating.

Explore other reviews about VCA

5.0
Dec 1, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good team, lots to do

Cons

Poor pay, hard on your body

1
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VCA Response
4mo
Thank you for your contributions to the team and care you gave to pets and clients.
4.0
Jun 12, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This company offers many opportunities for doctors and techs to grow in their careers. They provide tons of support and they've been making HUGE changes to veterinary medicine on a whole. I have never known another company to offer so many benefits and perks for staff (especially techs), and they're even making lots of effort to invest in the veterinary receptionists-the front line associates of the hospital. They're also making great strides to acknowledge some of the feedback we've had for many years. They're savvy and smart, making business decisions that build on a company that will be around a long time (and has.)

Cons

There have been times where transparency and communication are lacking, and sometimes to the point where hospital-level employees feel left out or unheard. Some bigger topics like onboarding and navigating what support comes from where could be more clear. It feels like they've been fusing on new concepts/policies/features to the company, making it feel like a clunky machine rather than building something new and streamlined. Maybe it's in the works, but how do we know down here?

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VCA Response
1w
Thank you for sharing such thoughtful feedback. We’re glad to hear you’ve experienced strong support, growth opportunities, and benefits across our teams. We also recognize how important clear communication and connection are, especially as we continue to evolve. We’re creating more opportunities for open dialogue through listening sessions and bringing leaders closer to our hospital teams to better understand their day‑to‑day experiences and offer meaningful support. We’re also continuing to invest in leadership and communication training to strengthen consistency across our hospitals. Your insights help guide this work, and we appreciate all that you do for your teams and patients.
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