NEW GRADUATE SURVIVAL MANUAL

DO I NEED A CONTRACT?

WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU HAVE A FAIR CONTRACT

Fair Contract Tips.

You went to veterinary school to practice medicine, not to read, write, or decipher contracts. Yet, a balanced contract can be as critical to a healthy working relationship as a balanced diet is to a healthy patient.

A contract protects both you as the employee, and the practice or your employer. This should not be competing interests, but instead a way to make sure both parties are able to get what they need out of the work arrangement.

The best contracts clarify all aspects of the relationship you are creating with your employer and can be a bonding opportunity. They spell out the hours and days you will work, what will be expected from you, and your compensation in return. They spell out what you are paid for, what’s not included in your compensation, and clarify all of those additional details such as benefits and vacation time.

WHAT'S IN THE CONTRACT FOR ME?

Common parts of a contract that are important to you are things like your compensation, benefits, and work expectations. Some practices will also include a mentorship agreement, which helps to define what your mentorship as a new grad will look like. There are numerous things to consider about what you need from potential employment. You should think about things you need in your contract, and also consider when you can be flexible. Everyone is different. For instance, some people might need to be paid as much as possible, while others are willing to take a lesser paying position for a better schedule. Do you need a better health insurance plan for yourself and family? Or is a large CE allowance more important? Make sure you consider these things because they will help you when trying to choose what positions to apply to and which one to ultimately accept. Here’s just a few examples of areas that need to be considered:

What kind of shifts/schedule are you hoping for?
How long before the end of my shift am I expected to continue to receive cases?
What does the company offer in regards to retirement plans?
What is the PTO policy? How much can I roll over year to year? Can I be paid for unused PTO?
What is the policy about bringing personal pets to work?
What is the ratio of doctors to support staff per shift typically?
What is the company CE policy?

WHAT SHOULD I WATCH FOR IN A CONTRACT?

Be sure to know if your contract contains a non-compete and, if so, the details of that clause. This may limit the work in veterinary medicine you can perform outside of the practice.

Negative accrual is part of a pay structure that means the employee may owe money back to the practice if your production numbers fall below a certain amount.

Understand what termination of employment looks like. That goes for both yourself and your employer. An employment contract is not a guarantee of a job – even though it sometimes feels like a security blanket. While a contract needs to have a term for which it is valid, it does not mean the contract cannot be broken during the term. Generally the termination clauses involve giving adequate amounts of time or warning so neither party is unduly burdened by the departure of the employee. The clauses also define penalties for not abiding by the contract – these penalties can be applicable to both sides for failure to meet the requirements.

Lastly, watch for clawback clauses in your contract. These are often associated with things like signing or relocation bonuses, although in some cases can be associated with other funds like CE. Clawback clauses mean if you were to leave your job before the end of your contract you may owe some (or all) of that amount back.

Do not, under any circumstances, sign a contract you:

Have not read and understood in its entirety, or;
Do not agree with and agree to be bound by the terms set forth in the contract.

Negotiating with your new employer or employee should NOT be adversarial. Working through the Model Employment Contract together has proven positive for thousands of employers and employees, with the end-product being an agreement all parties understand and feel good about.

The VIN Foundation, working with both veterinarians and lawyers, drafted the Model Employment Contract – a comprehensive, comprehensible, and customizable contract designed to meet the needs of both the veterinary employee and employer.

The Model Employment Contract provides explanations for each provision in the template so both parties can understand the impact of the contract and the reason for each provision. The Model Employment Contract covers:

Terms of Employment and Compensation
Benefits
Intellectual Property and Confidentiality
Termination of Employment
And more…

THRIVE IN FIVE TOOLKIT

The Model Employment Contract for veterinarians is part of the Thrive in Five Toolkit to help recent veterinary school graduates thrive in their first five years out of school. Learn more about the Thrive in Five Toolkit.