Contract question

[Nudexta]

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I have started working with my employer last June. My contract is for two years, and I became board certified last month. Can I ask for a raise? Is it to early to ask for one? I am seeing salaries increases by 10-20 k compared to what I am paid.

 

[Sushirolls]

Need more details. Which employer? Are these peers who got raises for BC vs not BC? Is it in your contract to get the raise?

 

[Nudexta]

Inpatient psychiatry employers. Not peers at same institutions, at other places. No raise per contract, but I was thinking is it ok to ask for one after one year?

 

[Sushirolls]

You can ask, but I doubt you'll get it. Unless you are more assertive, and said you have a better contract ready to sign and were willing to break your contract early. Your job probably doesn't care if you BC or not.

 

[psychapp121]

I have started working with my employer last June. My contract is for two years, and I became board certified last month. Can I ask for a raise? Is it to early to ask for one? I am seeing salaries increases by 10-20 k compared to what I am paid.

Why do u sound like a little boy asking his mom for candy? You’re a grown man. Go ask for a raise and stop being a *****. The worst they can do is say no, if you’re being ripped off and they’re not paying enough then walk..you are in high demand..

 

[AD04]

Inpatient psychiatry employers. Not peers at same institutions, at other places. No raise per contract, but I was thinking is it ok to ask for one after one year?

I have a motto that I live by:

I let others say no to me, but I never say no to myself.

 

[Nudexta]

Thanks for the feedback. I just was trying to know the norms in such situation. Do people usually wait for a year to ask for a year? Or it is a case by case scenario?

 

[psychapp121]

Thanks for the feedback. I just was trying to know the norms in such situation. Do people usually wait for a year to ask for a year? Or it is a case by case scenario?

there’s no norm..you’re the boss you’re in control..ask them tomorrow for a raise

 

[cookymonster]

You can ask for a raise, but the people you're asking are trying to pay you as little as they can get away with. They don't give you raises because you've earned them, they give them because they have to do it in order to retain you.

Would you leave your job for an extra 10k or 20k a year? If so, see if you can get another offer for that. You lose nothing by getting out in the market and assessing what your real value is. That is likely the only way your present employer will give you a raise. However, don't do this unless you're actually willing to leave.

The only real leverage most employed docs have is their own two feet.

 

[WisNeuro]

Would you leave your job for an extra 10k or 20k a year? If so, see if you can get another offer for that. You lose nothing by getting out in the market and assessing what your real value is. That is likely the only way your present employer will give you a raise. However, don't do this unless you're actually willing to leave.

I imagine this would depend heavily on the contract. Some have stipulations that if you leave early, you repay portions of signing bonus and/or loan reimbursement. In some cases, could be a break even, or even a loss depending on contract details. What's in your contract, OP?

 

[michaelrack]

Ask for a raise after 1 year of employment

 

[Mass Effect]

Why do u sound like a little boy asking his mom for candy? You’re a grown man. Go ask for a raise and stop being a *****. The worst they can do is say no, if you’re being ripped off and they’re not paying enough then walk..you are in high demand..

You're an intern. You have not yet negotiated an attending contract, so no need to be so aggressive. The OP is asking for opinions.

You can ask for a raise, but the people you're asking are trying to pay you as little as they can get away with. They don't give you raises because you've earned them, they give them because they have to do it in order to retain you.

Would you leave your job for an extra 10k or 20k a year? If so, see if you can get another offer for that. You lose nothing by getting out in the market and assessing what your real value is. That is likely the only way your present employer will give you a raise. However, don't do this unless you're actually willing to leave.

The only real leverage most employed docs have is their own two feet.

Question about this -- if you're looking for another job but don't want your current employer to know, is it okay not to list your current employer as a reference? Or will they call anyway?

 

[nexus73]

It's common for jobs to pay more after board certification. I would ask. If you don't ask you'll never get.

Then if they say no, you can reassess the current job and decide if its' still worth staying there, or if there are other jobs around with better pay and or work/life balance. Just remember the reason to stay at a job includes a lot of intangible factors other than salary. Good co-workers, vacation time, good support staff, good administrators...etc. So don't be too quick to jump ship for a place across town paying $10K more per year.

 

[nexus73]

You're an intern. You have not yet negotiated an attending contract, so no need to be so aggressive. The OP is asking for opinions.




Question about this -- if you're looking for another job but don't want your current employer to know, is it okay not to list your current employer as a reference? Or will they call anyway?

You can ask them not to contact your current employer until they've interviewed you and offered you the job verbally. They'll almost certainly want to contact your current job for references before the official job contract is offered to you.

 

[psychapp121]

You're an intern. You have not yet negotiated an attending contract, so no need to be so aggressive. The OP is asking for opinions.




Question about this -- if you're looking for another job but don't want your current employer to know, is it okay not to list your current employer as a reference? Or will they call anyway?

are you slow? I feel I’ve told you I’m not an intern 3+ times not that it matters. I am a non-trad that spent 5+ yrs before med school working in the corporate sector so I probably have more experience than most attendings in terms of negotiating and I stand by the advice and mindset laid out in previous posts

 

[Mass Effect]

Yes and then you refused to answer why you were an MS4 in the fall of 2018 and why you were in the 2019 match. @clausewitz2 and I both asked repeatedly. So whatever, tell people you're any PGY level you want. I'll think what I want based on your previous posts and YOG from med school and I may bring it up when it's relevant.

The point of my post remains the same with regard to the OP.

 

[psychapp121]

Yes and then you refused to answer why you were an MS4 in the fall of 2018 and why you were in the 2019 match. @clausewitz2 and I both asked repeatedly. So whatever, tell people you're any PGY level you want. I'll think what I want based on your previous posts and YOG from med school and I may bring it up when it's relevant.

The point of my post remains the same with regard to the OP.

I didn’t refuse lol you just like to make things up, I told you before that post was advice for someone else..get over it you’re obsessed

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I didn’t refuse lol you just like to make things up, I told you before that post was advice for someone else..get over it you’re obsessed

Umm, not so much.

Hey everyone, I don't really have any knowledgeable people around me to ask since my letter writers have been community psych docs and my medical school doesn't really have any advisors for psychiatry. Can you please tell me if the list of places im applying to is appropriate or if you guys have any criticisms about the places. I don't really know much about these places I just applied because they are in the location me and my wife want to end up in. Thank you so much for your time.

USMD, 4th year, 245 step 1, step 2ck score not out yet, AOA, took CS no score yet, 2 psych 1 IM letter theyre pretty good, couple of papers and presentations in surgery, want to end up in midwest in a program that values work life balance since i will have young kids and want to spend time with them

Places Im applying:
[deleted list as not pertinent]

This post was dated September 14th 2018. That means you would have graduated in Spring of 2019 and started intern year July 1 2019. So yes, unless that post was incorrect you are an intern.

As for this:

are you slow? I feel I’ve told you I’m not an intern 3+ times not that it matters. I am a non-trad that spent 5+ yrs before med school working in the corporate sector so I probably have more experience than most attendings in terms of negotiating and I stand by the advice and mindset laid out in previous posts

Unless that corporate sector was in medicine or law then your advice might have less value than you think it does. Some parts of contract negotiations work across all fields but plenty don't.

And even if you were doing corporate work in medicine, you didn't need to be a jerk about the OP's asking for advice the way you did.

Why do u sound like a little boy asking his mom for candy? You’re a grown man. Go ask for a raise and stop being a *****. The worst they can do is say no, if you’re being ripped off and they’re not paying enough then walk..you are in high demand..

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

why are you still talking to me..I have no respect for you or your opinions I think we’ve gone through this many times..also I love how you’re telling me about contracts as a family doctor..life is funny sometimes

You have an interesting way of saying "I got caught lying about about my educational status".

 

[TexasPhysician]

Most jobs provide no bonus/raise for board certification. Some it is a requirement and some will never care. Few feel that it is a valid accomplishment to reward.

 

[psychapp121]

You have an interesting way of saying "I got caught lying about about my educational status".

I just addressed this in the post 2 above from this..the post last year was not about me..what even is the difference between a pgy1 and 2 resident that someone would lie about it? There’s barely a difference in knowledge or experience..keep trolling tho

 

[Mass Effect]

I just addressed this in the post 2 above from this..the post last year was not about me..what even is the difference between a pgy1 and 2 resident that someone would lie about it? There’s barely a difference in knowledge or experience..keep trolling tho

But there's a huge difference in the level of respect one gets (or lacks in this case) when they lie about it.

 

[Doctorows]

what even is the difference between a pgy1 and 2 resident that someone would lie about it? There’s barely a difference in knowledge or experience..

Ah. That explains why you had no clue in the other thread that diagnosing psychiatric emergencies is even part of your field.

 

[Mass Effect]

why are you still talking to me..I have no respect for you or your opinions I think we’ve gone through this many times..also I love how you’re telling me about contracts as a family doctor..life is funny sometimes

A family physician has signed an attending contract (unlike you), which means any advice he has about physician contracts is valid.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I just addressed this in the post 2 above from this..the post last year was not about me..what even is the difference between a pgy1 and 2 resident that someone would lie about it? There’s barely a difference in knowledge or experience..keep trolling tho

 

[clausewitz2]

Most jobs provide no bonus/raise for board certification. Some it is a requirement and some will never care. Few feel that it is a valid accomplishment to reward.

A 1099 CMHC job I got offered had a pay bump for becoming board certified.

Granted, it was all of 10 bucks an hour, but a nice incentive.

 

[mojetter]

Just curious, would you owe them money if you broke the contract? ....did you get a signing bonus or financial incentive during training?

Often they will want that back if you resign so that deters many from leveraging via threat to resign, but if all you owe them is a notice (like 90 days) then by all means youre in the drivers seat and this is a business decision...it goes like this:

"...well, I like working here but Ive found my colleagues who I graduated with are earning $xx,xxx more than I am and I really need to have a salary on par with the market.."

They will pay you because replacing you will cost them WAY more than $20k...I think the recruiter's finders fee alone is something like $30-40k to find them a doctor...and no telling what that doc will be like. If they get mad let them, they will come to their senses. Its all business, not personal.

 

[splik]

I have started working with my employer last June. My contract is for two years, and I became board certified last month. Can I ask for a raise? Is it to early to ask for one? I am seeing salaries increases by 10-20 k compared to what I am paid.

Those who don't ask don't get. At the same time, successful negotiations are based on data and leverage and a strong relationship. The more they like you and value you, the more successful you'll be. The better the case you have, the harder it will be to brush off. timing is also important.

A 1099 CMHC job I got offered had a pay bump for becoming board certified.

Granted, it was all of 10 bucks an hour, but a nice incentive.

that's a pretty significant increase!

 

[clausewitz2]

that's a pretty significant increase!

Less so when it's 10 hours a week.

 

[thepoopologist]

I received an $8,000/year salary increase after board certification back in 2017

 

[Nudexta]

Did you request that after being board certified?

 

[Docofalltradez]

The answer is it depends.... But I will say this. No guts, no glory! You inspired me to write a blog post on this subject. I will publish in the upcoming week. Cheers!

 

[Nudexta]

The answer is it depends.... But I will say this. No guts, no glory! You inspired me to write a blog post on this subject. I will publish in the upcoming week. Cheers!

Let us know when you write the blog

 

[Smists]

Perhaps a super biller can confirm this. Reimbursement rate goes up for board certification. Depending how you're getting compensated, you might be leaving $$$ on the table...

 

[Sushirolls]

Reimbursement rates do not go up because of board certification. Employers simply choose to not take as much of a cut of your gross billings by giving you a pay raise when you get BC.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Perhaps a super biller can confirm this. Reimbursement rate goes up for board certification. Depending how you're getting compensated, you might be leaving $$$ on the table...

Nope. Rates are the same. That is why few employers give a raise for this.

 

[dl2dp2]

Question about this -- if you're looking for another job but don't want your current employer to know, is it okay not to list your current employer as a reference? Or will they call anyway?

My personal opinion is that if you are in an employed situation, you should *always* ask for a raise. This should typically happens at your yearly review and structured as a "routine discussion of performance and salary". You should also always get a raise if only for COL, it's the amount of the raise that should be under negotiation.

In terms of reference, again, it is generally *default* that your current employer is ASSUMED to be not in the know, as the reference they provide will not be hoped to be objective in anyway since there's a strong conflict of interest.

I think these things are much clearer if you think on the side of the employer. If any of you ever had the oppurtunity to be a hiring manager, you'll realize that: 1) you always assume that everyone is always on the look for a new job; 2) you never give the first offer, and hence whoever doesn't ask never gets; 3) you also almost never immediately say yes or no, unless the default is a yes. The goal in corporate up-management is to convert a maybe into a standard operating procedure.