Finding, keeping, and managing the right people is one of the most persistent challenges in healthcare — and it’s only getting harder. Medical Office Administrators (MOAs), registered nurses, medical lab technicians, and qualified reception staff are in high demand and short supply across Ontario. Clinics compete not only with each other but with hospitals, walk-in centres, and telehealth companies for the same talent pool.

Beyond recruitment, clinic owners face a complex employment landscape. Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA), the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and Human Rights Code obligations create a web of compliance requirements that most physicians were never trained to navigate. Add in the unique dynamics of managing diverse teams — where physicians, nurses, administrative staff, and specialists all work under different compensation structures, schedules, and expectations — and the HR function quickly becomes overwhelming.

High turnover is another persistent issue. Clinic environments can be stressful, and when employees feel unsupported, undervalued, or poorly managed, they leave — taking institutional knowledge, patient relationships, and training investment with them. Replacing a single experienced MOA can cost a clinic thousands of dollars in recruitment, onboarding, and lost productivity. Underlyte helps you build the HR systems, culture, and management practices that attract great people and keep them.