New Grad - Compensation and Negotiating Contract

[suddenlyforever]

Hey! Fourth year resident who's graduating in June, and am currently looking at jobs (East Coast, metropolitan city). I've been talking to a few practices (yay on not being unemployed next year!) but was wondering what is normal as far as collections goes (they're offering 40% minus cost of products for cosmetics) and 3 weeks of vacation+1 week CME. What is the standard in dermatology? It's hard coming out of residency and not knowing what to expect, so any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

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[Skindoc83]

Honestly, the best thing to do is get multiple contracts and compare them side by side. The outliers will really show up that way. Everything else can be negotiated. And once you start your job, continue to live frugally. Save as much as you can, pay off as much of your loans as you can, and don’t buy a house for the First few years because your first job is unlikely to be your last.

 

[Slack3r]

Pre-Covid, in talking to a variety of groups (multi specialty group, hospital system, private practice, PE) most offers ranged from 40-50% collections, $350-450k guarantee (typically 1-2 yrs), 3-4 weeks vacation, $2500-5000 CME seemed typical. Granted, none of these were in large east coast cities.

 

[addictionmedicine]

Hi guys! great inputs here. I have the same concern and appreciate ur thoughts. I want to add a clause in my contract re involuntary work separation (below is what I found in Texas, unsure where to get info re other states). I know some jobs pay for the whole duration of the contract (at least one yr since start date) including benefits(401k, insurance coverage, ...). I also need to know what is differences between this later situation and the severance package? is severance package what we can ask on top of being paid for the rest of the contract but in a lump sum? Thanks in advance for ur time and sharing!

1. Texas law has specific deadlines for final pay, as well as limitations on what may be deducted from pay
   1. in the case of an involuntary work separation (discharge, termination, layoff, "mutual agreement", and resignation in lieu of discharge), the employer has six calendar days from the effective date of discharge to give the employee the final paycheck; if the sixth day falls on a day on which the employer is normally closed for business, the employer may wait until the next regular workday to give the employee the final check
   2. if the work separation is voluntary, i.e., the employee initiates the work separation, and continued work would have been available had the employee not chosen to give notice of resigning, or had the employee not abandoned the job, the deadline for the final paycheck falls on the next regularly scheduled payday following the date of last work; "voluntary work separation" includes resignation, retirement, walking off the job, and job abandonment
   3. "final pay" includes all components of the pay - however, if a commission or bonus policy or plan provides for payment on a specific date or at a specific interval, the plan or policy will determine when such payments must be made - such plans or policies should always be in writing for the company's own protection
2. severance/wages in lieu of notice - the employer should decide whether to pay such post-termination pay in installments or in a lump sum. Texas allows either method. Under the Texas Payday Law, severance pay is not owed unless it is promised in a written policy. Be sure to understand the difference:
   1. Most employers designate any post-employment wages paid to ex-employees as severance pay.
   2. For purposes of unemployment compensation, however, it is important to know that such payments may not be severance at all, but rather, wages in lieu of notice.
   3. Sections 207.049(1) and (2) of the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act state that a claimant will be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits for any benefit period in which he is receiving wages in lieu of notice or severance pay.
   4. The courts have generally defined severance pay to be a payment the employer has obligated itself to make, either verbally or in writing, which is often based upon a set formula, such as length of prior service. For example, an employer may have a company policy that a terminating employee is entitled to one month's wages for every year of service. Section 207.049(2) defines "severance pay" as "dismissal or separation income paid on termination of employment in addition to the employee's usual earnings from the employer at the time of termination." The term does not include any payment made to settle a claim or lawsuit or in connection with a previously negotiated contract. Thus, severance pay that is unilaterally offered (for example, in a policy or in a job offer letter) would generally be disqualifying, while a negotiated severance payment would likely not affect benefit eligibility. Individual facts and circumstances make a difference, and each case is decided on its own facts. TWC does not issue advisory opinions before a claim is filed, and only the claim investigator can make an official ruling in an individual case.
   5. Wages in lieu of notice are additional wages that the employer is not obligated to pay. They are paid only because the employer has chosen to give the employee no notice of termination. The amount of wages is not necessarily based on longevity or length of service. For example, an employer may call an employee in for dismissal and offer him X number of weeks of wages to assist him during the time he is seeking new employment. No obligation + no notice = wages in lieu of notice.
   6. Anytime an employer is paying severance pay or wages in lieu of notice, that information should be provided to the Texas Workforce Commission local office on any response to an employee's claim for benefits. Keep in mind that such additional pay will not stop receipt of unemployment benefits, but payments will be delayed until the until the payment's period of coverage has expired. This can result in substantial savings to an employer because many people will have found another job by the time they are eligible for benefits.
   7. Keep in mind that if an employer has a policy or practice of making severance payments that require a continuing plan of administration, it will likely be obligated, under the federal law known as ERISA, to treat such benefits as a "welfare benefit" and to report them along with other forms of ERISA benefits in the IRS form for ERISA, Form 5500. ERISA is a very complicated statute that affects employment taxes, benefits, and employment policies and agreements. For more information, contact a qualified ERISA attorney.
   8. Finally, remember in the case of child or spousal support orders to make the proper deduction from severance pay or wages in lieu of notice - for more information, click here.
3. Other types of post-termination payments that are neither severance pay nor wages in lieu of notice:
   1. an incentive paid to obtain a release or waiver of liability from the departing employee with regard to the Civil Rights Act of 1991, or to settle a claim or lawsuit that has already been filed, or in connection with a written contract that was negotiated between the employer and employee prior to the date of the work separation - a payment like that will not affect unemployment benefits.
   2. liquidated damages - this kind of payment would also not affect unemployment benefits. TWC recently held (in a non-precedent wage claim case) that an amount promised as liquidated damages in an employment agreement ("If such-and-such happens and you are terminated prior to ____________, XYZ Company will pay you $____ in satisfaction of any remaining obligations it may have toward you.") is an enforceable part of the wage agreement under the Texas Payday Law.
4. A slightly different definition of "severance pay" is found in the Texas Payday Law, where it is defined in Rule 821.25(b) as "payment by an employer to an employee beyond the employee's wages on termination of employment, based on the employee's prior service. Severance pay does not include payments for liquidated damages, payments in exchange for a release of claims, or payments made because of a lack of notice of separation." Severance pay that meets that definition is an enforceable part of the wage agreement under Section 61.001(7)(B) of the Texas Labor Code.
5. Both wages in lieu of notice and severance pay are treated as taxable wages for unemployment tax purposes - see TWC's Tax Department Law Manual Section 4.2.2.10 ("Dismissal Payment") online at Tax Law Manual: Chapter 4: Taxes | Texas Workforce Commission.

 

[Skinvestigator]

Is it acceptable to inquire about salary/%collections/benefits prior to meeting with a medical director of a practice, or is it always customary to discuss that only during the meeting?

I just received a low ball offer after spending 1.5h with a medical director. I am trying to be respectful of my time and others' too.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Skindoc83]

Is it acceptable to inquire about salary/%collections/benefits prior to meeting with a medical director of a practice, or is it always customary to discuss that only during the meeting?

I just received a low ball offer after spending 1.5h with a medical director. I am trying to be respectful of my time and others' too.

Thanks in advance.

Yes I think it’s totally acceptable especially if its a practice involving travel and an overnight stay. No one wants their time wasted so if there is something in particular that’s a deal breaker I see no reason why you should not be up front and open with it