What Should I Do Next
I have been working at a large medical practice since July of 2006. I was hired to support one physician primarily. He has been waffling between "he is going to quit" screaming this publicly often and "everything is fine" for the past six months. The rumor started circulating that he was interviewing with other practices etc.
Fearing the worst I went to the practice manager(s) and senior partner and told them I knew that he had been making noise and that while I knew nothing of any permanent plans that I was single and supported myself and their salary/benefits etc. were very generous and I had appreciated the opportunity they had given me to build the program and work for the practice but that if he did indeed follow through on his threats/plans to leave that I realized they had a business to run and that they could not keep me. All I asked was that if they knew of something happening that I had appreciated all they had done for me and could they please give me the opportunity to find another position if they did not have something else for me within the practice as I realised that that might not be possible. All three assured me that they would not suddenly let me go and they did value me and that I was not to worry.
Well physician gets word of it and explodes and well all you know what breaks loose. Fast forward and now according to him (despite assurance from practice manager otherwise) they are on the fast track to eliminate my position this week.
I have an interview set up with another hospital system (on the other side of the country) on the 9-11th. I told them the reason was that he was thinking of leaving the practice and I didn't want to wait until he did. (I started looking for a job anyway I didn't trust the whole situation)
So the question is: if they eliminate my position this week I plan to maintain myself. Is there a good way to negotiate severance if they don't offer it immediately and to get health insurance continued or does COBRA apply? (Sorry this is so long)
At least the physician has calmed down and is now offering a letter of recommendation!
Fearing the worst I went to the practice manager(s) and senior partner and told them I knew that he had been making noise and that while I knew nothing of any permanent plans that I was single and supported myself and their salary/benefits etc. were very generous and I had appreciated the opportunity they had given me to build the program and work for the practice but that if he did indeed follow through on his threats/plans to leave that I realized they had a business to run and that they could not keep me. All I asked was that if they knew of something happening that I had appreciated all they had done for me and could they please give me the opportunity to find another position if they did not have something else for me within the practice as I realised that that might not be possible. All three assured me that they would not suddenly let me go and they did value me and that I was not to worry.
Well physician gets word of it and explodes and well all you know what breaks loose. Fast forward and now according to him (despite assurance from practice manager otherwise) they are on the fast track to eliminate my position this week.
I have an interview set up with another hospital system (on the other side of the country) on the 9-11th. I told them the reason was that he was thinking of leaving the practice and I didn't want to wait until he did. (I started looking for a job anyway I didn't trust the whole situation)
So the question is: if they eliminate my position this week I plan to maintain myself. Is there a good way to negotiate severance if they don't offer it immediately and to get health insurance continued or does COBRA apply? (Sorry this is so long)
Hi G8037
First off severance is a gift.... if they decide to do so there is nonegotiation this, they will tell you if you receive it or not. Once theydecide to let you go you can collect unemployment. This may be the onlything you could collect from this company.
You must protect yourself and move on asap. Sound like a company does not care about their employees.
I had a sister-in-law that went about the same thing.
Remember the only person that looks after you is you! So protectyourself! One other thing if they fired you get it in writing or theymight fight it through un-employment. Better now then later to have that protection.
Stop by the Salary & Negotiation Tips to chat with our expert Paul Barada for additional advice on this subject.
MCCathy
Community Moderator
Monster
First off severance is a gift.... if they decide to do so there is nonegotiation this, they will tell you if you receive it or not. Once theydecide to let you go you can collect unemployment. This may be the onlything you could collect from this company.
You must protect yourself and move on asap. Sound like a company does not care about their employees.
I had a sister-in-law that went about the same thing.
Remember the only person that looks after you is you! So protectyourself! One other thing if they fired you get it in writing or theymight fight it through un-employment. Better now then later to have that protection.
Stop by the Salary & Negotiation Tips to chat with our expert Paul Barada for additional advice on this subject.
MCCathy
Community Moderator
Monster
...sounds like your doctor colleague has no patience....
Remember to speak well of your former employers when interviewing...or at least try not to speak ill of them.
You can frame the whole incident as a conflict between office management and the primary's goals. You are just collateral damage. You didn't mention it, but if the office closes, won't all the assistants and clerks also be terminated? It sounds better for you if the office was shutting down, rather than you being singled out. You might have someone check occasinally to see if the office is still open or if the other physician retired himself or met with Mr. Schwartzeneggar's alter ego.
I understand your anxiety, but unfortunately, you handled this poorly. You should have gone to this doctor directly instead of going over his head to the other partners first. That's bound to tick him off which is exactly what happened.
I'm not sure why you have to go across the country to find another similar job. I'd look a lot closer to home since it is unlikely that anyone is going to kick up relocation expenses for you.
Finally, if they fire you, it is unlikely they will give you any severence and no, you can't "negotiate" on that. COBRA should cover your medical however, it won't be cheap. Also, if you're fired, you may or may not be able to collect unemployment. That varies by state.
Tess
UPDATE:
Well, I was right. I was collateral dammage. The physician had given a warning he was leaving and they eliminated my position today. He blew out of town for three days to continue his "job search." I did get severance pay and they continued my health insurance until the end of the month. Plus they wrote me a letter of recommendation stating that my postion was eliminated. All in all it could have been worse I would say I came through relatively unscathed other than I don't have a job at the moment.
Tess: while I don't have to go across the country to look for a job I am keenly interested in this one it seems like a good fit and it comes with a generous relocation package. Plus I want to get out of here I feel like I need the change. The good news is that when they asked why I was thinking of leaving my job after 14 months I thought quick and said I'd heard that my doctor was thinking of relocating because the program wasn't progressing as fast as he wanted. They said they thought that was crazy as it took years to build a program and to come on out they would love to have me in their program. So hopefully I have bought myself some time to interview and the letter of recommendation and references from the practice will mitigate the damage.
By maintaining my cool I think I came out ahead. They are looking at the practice as a whole and overall everyone thinks more people are going to lose their jobs when this is over.
Thanks everyone.
Well, I was right. I was collateral dammage. The physician had given a warning he was leaving and they eliminated my position today. He blew out of town for three days to continue his "job search." I did get severance pay and they continued my health insurance until the end of the month. Plus they wrote me a letter of recommendation stating that my postion was eliminated. All in all it could have been worse I would say I came through relatively unscathed other than I don't have a job at the moment.
Tess: while I don't have to go across the country to look for a job I am keenly interested in this one it seems like a good fit and it comes with a generous relocation package. Plus I want to get out of here I feel like I need the change. The good news is that when they asked why I was thinking of leaving my job after 14 months I thought quick and said I'd heard that my doctor was thinking of relocating because the program wasn't progressing as fast as he wanted. They said they thought that was crazy as it took years to build a program and to come on out they would love to have me in their program. So hopefully I have bought myself some time to interview and the letter of recommendation and references from the practice will mitigate the damage.
By maintaining my cool I think I came out ahead. They are looking at the practice as a whole and overall everyone thinks more people are going to lose their jobs when this is over.
Thanks everyone.