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One in Four Dentists Suffers from Ex-Employee Headaches
In this survey, we asked dentists if they have had “wrongful discharge” headaches from past employees. The majority (72%) have not had such trouble. However, 9% of dentists report being sued for wrongful discharge, and another 19% say they’ve been accused of it.
We asked dentists, “Have you had negative experience with letting employees go?“
- “It’s always negative, but no real problems.” (Oregon periodontist)
- “I’ve always been happy they were gone.” (New York dentist)
- “I had a disgruntled ex-employee of ten years bring action against me by the state dental board.” (Maine dentist)
- “I have had to continue to pay unemployment to two former employees who hop from job to job.” (California periodontist)
- “One time I let a hygienist go and she took a large number of patients to another dentist’s office and started working a few hours a week and collected all the unemployment she could.” (Michigan dentist)
- “My God, who hasn’t had problems with former employees??!! Never sued, but a heck of a lot of drama.” (Illinois dentist)
- “Yes, we have an employee who successfully sued a former employer, and she is always alluding to that fact.” (Pediatric dentist)
- “I went through the employee standards protocol for what is required and covered myself. It is a bit of work but much easier and less costly than going through the courts.” (Canada dentist)
Read the complete wrongful discharge survey results…
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January 14th, 2008 at 4:15 am
I have been sued (1995)for Wrongful Discharge but previaled after the required thorough investigation including deposititons. I did not have any insurance policy protecting me (Employee Liability Policy). It cost me $7,500 to “defend” myself which resulted in the case being dropped by the accuser (former employee). The fees I paid were for the Legal Secretary’s work in gathering all the information required to defend myself(not regular attorney fees!).
The key document that protected me was the “At Will” agreement signed by the employee (and me)at the time of her hire–which included a form stating that her health was fine. Part of her claim was that she was “disabled” at the time of hire and I had done nothing to correct the situation.
Needless to say, t his was a most upsetting mopment in my life as I knew I had done nothing wrong but was sued anyway. I could not counter-sue for attorney fees so I was out the $7,500 simply because a suit was filed against me.
Respectfully,
Marvin Sonne, DDS