As we start the New Year, I think it is a great time to think about your practice and its future. As a practice owner and/or manager, have you thought about what you wish to accomplish in the next year? Did you know that when the top executives of Fortune 500 companies are surveyed and asked, “What is the one thing you do to which you most attribute to your success?” the overwhelming response is “goal planning”. Goal planning is nothing more than planning for your future and its success...

The doctor must walk his talk. If the senior marketing plan is something we’re going to discuss with every senior pet owner, the doctor has to support the technician and solidify the information. Conduct the physical exam, bring up the issues that you see, and using language the client can understand, help the pet owner see the value of the senior plan.

Ask open questions to be sure the client understands the benefit. Use “how”, “what”, “where”, “when”, and “why” to demonstrate how the illness or change affects the pet. Then make a solid recommendation, and repeat the examples they gave you. “Here’s what you saw, and to take care of it, this is what we need to do today.”

Realize the value of rechecks and reminders. If a client is not ready for the marketing program today, that doesn’t mean they won’t want to budget and do it in the future.

Remember that doctors set the standard for medical care. The number one reason clients don’t comply is that they don’t feel they received a recommendation. Put the recommendation in writing and follow up so that the client can comply when the time is right.

Are the Terms in your Employment Agreements Confusing?

When drafting employment agreements with associates, always review your document that your attorney has drafted with an eye toward simplicity. The simpler the way the terms are written, the less confusing the agreement is to interpret.

Consider the way certain provisions are drafted. When specifying a time period for the contract, do not run the contracts for just one year periods. It forces you to have to re-negotiate all of the terms of the agreement every year. If the contract lapses, so may the covenant not to compete. Have contract terms continue as long as the employment relationship continues by stating the first one year period and then indicate “year to year thereafter.” If any contract terms need to be changed, you can modify a paragraph without having to re write the entire contract.

When it comes to stating time off for vacation and sick days, use a specified number of days ( IE: 15 vacation days or 5 sick days). When you define it by weeks, it becomes confusing as to what a week is. Is it 5 days or 7 days? What happens when it includes a week with a holiday? When stating a compensation formula, put an example of the pay formula in as an attachment to the contract so one can see how it is supposed to work. It will be less confusing than if left to word interpretation.

When it comes to retirement plan provisions, only state that the associate is eligible to participate as provided in the retirement plan document. The plan document, not the employment contract, will dictate the employees’ participation. If you state specific terms and the retirement plan provisions change, it would require that the employment contract change as well.

As with any employment contract, make sure you work with your attorney to prepare a complete document. Remember, the most important reason why these agreements are drawn up is so that if any provision of the contract needs to be enforced in a court of law, it has the legal language necessary to protect you.