No dermatologist thinks it will happen to them, but it is possible to get fired from your job. Whether it’s because of a work conflict gone awry or something you did wrong, you can lose your position. If that happens to you, here are some steps you can take that will protect your career and help you move forward.
Look at the “why”
Firing is possible in medicine and it happens when you’ve become a liability (real or perceived) for your organization. Therefore, it’s worth taking an honest look at what led to your firing. Was it a breakdown in your relationship with leadership? Did you not fulfill the duties in your job description? While you may not be able to change the past, you can do some self-reflection that can influence your future.
If the matter was a relational breakdown, consider seeking counseling to address the way you handled the conflict. Certainly, the other party may be at greater fault, but counseling to address your responses may provide you with tools for how to handle similar situations in the future and it also may help you process your emotions about the experience.
If you committed an offense, make amends. It could be as simple as an apology, or a request to meet to get feedback and attempt to communicate your desire for another chance. Don’t move on without making it right, if possible. Reputations can follow you in this “small world.”
Admitting your own culpability in your firing can be a tough pill to swallow. Have a growth mindset. Take this as an opportunity to reset and become not only a better employee but a healthier person. Be cautioned not to admit fault in writing though. If you do, the practice might use that against you later.
For example, if your contract provides for forfeiture of bonuses or accounts receivable that comes in later. A written admission is evidence against you and will not help you or your legal counsel if you need to send a demand letter for that money. Additionally, sometimes “for cause” termination can cause imposition of non-competes whereas some do not impose them if you are terminated “without cause,” depending on your contract.
Review your employment contract
Your employment contract may spell out possible causes of termination and the steps your employer would take in those scenarios. It may allow them to cause you to vacate immediately or mandate that they give you more detail and an opportunity to cure the issue before they can do so. If you believe your employer terminated you in a manner that violated your employment contract, seek legal counsel.
Your contract also may contain three clauses that have a significant impact on your next steps: non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disparagement. Your contract may not allow you to set up shop nearby since you could potentially compete with your former practice nor may it allow you to solicit former patients. And, some contracts may have a clause against disparaging the practice, even if you’re sharing truthful information. Proving damages for non-disparagement may be challenging, but it’s still wise to resist the urge to tattle — whether it’s to your former colleagues or on social media – whether you have a non-disparagement clause or not. You do not want to bear the expense of hiring an attorney to defend an action, and your reputation may follow you and make future employers wary of hiring you. Choose to spill your guts to trusted advisors who will keep what you say in confidence. Badmouthing will only reflect poorly on you and will hinder your ability to move forward. Remember, dermatology is a small town, and gossip can travel fast with career-lasting implications.
Look in your contract to see if you are due any additional pay beyond your last date of employment, including deferred or bonus compensation. This might be a good time to meet with a financial or benefits advisor. You may want to transition your retirement plan or purchase temporary health insurance while you are between jobs. Always be sure to keep in mind any post-employment obligations, such as purchasing “tail” insurance and notification of patients.
Develop a healthy self-concept
While losing a job can be tough for anyone to take, it can be especially challenging for physicians, including dermatologists, who have placed a high amount of pressure on themselves to succeed. Learn to see yourself outside of your professional success.
Reach out to mentors for support, particularly mentors who have a healthy relationship between their professional and personal lives.
Consider the future
As you reflect on what went wrong in your last place of employment, consider what went right. What worked well? What did you enjoy most? What would you have changed?
Use this opportunity to get a fresh start. You may want to consider opening your own practice, finding a position that provides more work-life balance, or moving to an area of the country where you have more family support. Consider the office environment. Based on your experience, would you prefer a multispecialty group practice with more corporate policies or a small, private practice with less red tape? Also, when contemplating any future employment opportunities, keep in mind leadership and ownership structures and how they influence decision making.
Before you move on, get closure. Prospective employers will ask about the firing in future job interviews. If they sense that you have owned what you needed to have owned and have closure about the situation, you will communicate to them that you are ready to start again. If it’s clear through your responses that you still have a lot of anger and frustration over what happened, or that you have not made amends for your wrongs, then that will not communicate that you are ready.
Final tips for leaving a medical practice: Always maintain your malpractice insurance. Remember to change addresses on your licenses.
Ron Lebow, Esq., is a healthcare attorney with Lebow Law, P.C.
