should i quit?

[beatstreet]

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I'd like to vent a little here. I've been working at this private practice for about half a year now and i am about ready to quit. yesterday, the optometrist had a talk with me and the other employess and yells and cusses at us because we're supposedly not doing our jobs right. he complains that we've made very little money this past month and goes on and on how he can't pay his bills because of that. this guy, btw, lives like he's a millionaire or something....but he has no steady income to pay for it. not only that, but the environment is so focused on selling glasses and making money that it makes me sick. i can't count how many times a pt. came back complaining that they can't see through their new $500 glasses. and whenever a pt like that comes in, the doc moans and groans like the pt is dumb or something. it's ridiculous!!!

 

[Smorr18]

I'd search for another job....once you find one, quit the old one and take the new one. It sounds like there's a bit too much drama where you're working!

 

[S_SEEN2020]

Although I am not a doctor yet, I know how it feels to work for somebody or with people that are not reflections of yourself. It sounds as though the doctor you work for doesn't share the same values as you do, you two have two different motives for practicing optometry. In my opinion that is reason enough to quit, but not until you have discussed it with your family, and have a back up plan or two or three. A more optimistic person would suggest to give it more time (since you have only been there for 6 months), but in my opinion it is better to end the battle before there are casualties than to fight to the death so to speak. If you do not leave, eventually his patients won't put up with the way his office is run and will seek a new OD . . . which could very much well be you in a different office, not treating them as income. Since I have been on SDN i have seen that people beocme OD's for different reasons, from my shadowing and work experiences I have learned that you have to be patient, trust in god and be willing to make a few mistakes in order to be successful in the OD profession. But SUCCESS is different to all people, for some it is living the high life, making a huge income at the expense of customer service and employer/employee relations. My advice quit if you can afford it, and continue on your quest to HAPPINESS and SUCCESS.

 

[cpw]

January is notoriously a slow month in our profession. People are getting their credit card bills for Christmas so they don't come in for exams. We were very very busy near the end of December and the first week in January while everyone was on vacation from college/school etc. Now, we're reeeeaaally slow.

You doc should be budgeting for the normal ebb and flow of an office's schedule. It's not the front desk's fault unless they're turning away exams.

If you're unhappy you can start a search for a new job while looking for another one. just be very careful while you're doing it, optometry is a very small club and word will get out you're looking.

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

I'd like to vent a little here. I've been working at this private practice for about half a year now and i am about ready to quit. yesterday, the optometrist had a talk with me and the other employess and yells and cusses at us because we're supposedly not doing our jobs right. he complains that we've made very little money this past month and goes on and on how he can't pay his bills because of that. this guy, btw, lives like he's a millionaire or something....but he has no steady income to pay for it. not only that,

but the environment is so focused on selling glasses and making money that it makes me sick. i can't count how many times a pt. came back complaining that they can't see through their new $500 glasses. and whenever a pt like that comes in, the doc moans and groans like the pt is dumb or something. it's ridiculous!!!

What should the business owner be focused on if not making money, if he does'nt make money he can't pay you. And if you don't want him to focus on selling glasses what should he focus on ? selling contacts ? We only sell two products and only one of them is profitable. I think you should quit and go work for someone who is not focused on making money.

 

[beatstreet]

What should the business owner be focused on if not making money, if he does'nt make money he can't pay you. And if you don't want him to focus on selling glasses what should he focus on ? selling contacts ? We only sell two products and only one of them is profitable. I think you should quit and go work for someone who is not focused on making money.

Um..true...but regardless, you do not have the right to speak to your employees that way. The situation was handled in a very unprofessional manner.

 

[Ben Chudner]

Um..true...but regardless, you do not have the right to speak to your employees that way. The situation was handled in a very unprofessional manner.

Actually, as the boss, he does have that right. The employees have the right to quit if they do not like they way they are treated. Personally, I don't think you will be happy there in the long run. The two of you do not see eye to eye. My advice is to quit.

 

[KHE]

Um..true...but regardless, you do not have the right to speak to your employees that way. The situation was handled in a very unprofessional manner.

As the owner, rest assured he has the right to speak to his employees that way.

As the employees however, you have the right to quit if you so desire.

I have dealt with many people like this doctor, and not just in the field of optometry. 95% of the time, they are making plenty of money. It's just a form of psychology so that staff, or you will think twice before asking for an increase in pay or benefits and/or you'll work harder.

Don't be sickened by the fact that the practice is focused on making money by selling glasses. I'm not sure how long you've been out of school, but you are going to find that 90% of the private practices out there operate this way.

 

[IlizaRob]

As the owner, rest assured he has the right to speak to his employees that way.

As the employees however, you have the right to quit if you so desire.

I have dealt with many people like this doctor, and not just in the field of optometry. 95% of the time, they are making plenty of money. It's just a form of psychology so that staff, or you will think twice before asking for an increase in pay or benefits and/or you'll work harder.

Don't be sickened by the fact that the practice is focused on making money by selling glasses. I'm not sure how long you've been out of school, but you are going to find that 90% of the private practices out there operate this way.

I often visit this forum because I am an eternal patient of yours (OD docs). My whole family is blind as a bat. Anyway, while we are on the subject, I wanted to mention that at my last appointment with my optometrist (It was my first appointment with her since I moved) she asked if I wanted to buy glasses. I was there to get contacts. I told her that I already had glasses and didnt need them. She kept on insisting that my insurance would still pay for it and that it would be nice to have two. I declined about 3 times before I walked out. I thought her persistence was a little weird but it makes sense now after reading this thread. I didnt realize that glasses made up a large portion of an optometrist's income.

 

[Ben Chudner]

I often visit this forum because I am an eternal patient of yours (OD docs). My whole family is blind as a bat. Anyway, while we are on the subject, I wanted to mention that at my last appointment with my optometrist (It was my first appointment with her since I moved) she asked if I wanted to buy glasses. I was there to get contacts. I told her that I already had glasses and didnt need them. She kept on insisting that my insurance would still pay for it and that it would be nice to have two. I declined about 3 times before I walked out. I thought her persistence was a little weird but it makes sense now after reading this thread. I didnt realize that glasses made up a large portion of an optometrist's income.

It is true, that a portion of our income comes from glasses (the percentage depends on the type of office, but large would describe the majority), your doctor should not make you feel uncomfortable about not purchasing glasses. It is policy in my office to offer all patients the option of purchasing glasses, and yes, if their insurance covers it we will make them aware of it. This is done to hopefully get patients to buy from us, but we make it very clear that their Rx is good anywhere and there is no obligation to purchase from us. We have found that this approach is viewed as a soft sale rather than a hard sale and patients seem to appreciate it more.

That all being said, the bottom line is very important. A practice that is not profitable cannot continue to provide the type of care we all want to, so I would be very surprised if a private practice owner is not focused on making money either by glasses sales or medical billing.

 

[KHE]

I was there to get contacts. I told her that I already had glasses and didnt need them. She kept on insisting that my insurance would still pay for it and that it would be nice to have two. I declined about 3 times before I walked out. I thought her persistence was a little weird but it makes sense now after reading this thread. I didnt realize that glasses made up a large portion of an optometrist's income.

SSSSHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not so LOUD!

That's optometry's dirty little secret.

 

[TarzanBoy]

You should quit. A boss shouldn't cuss at his employees. Sounds like her doesn't respect his employees. When he looks at his employee$ and patient$, he only see dollar signs. I wonder how good of an exam he performs.

Hope you don't turn out to be like him when you become an optometrist.

 

[Opii]

Nobody has the right to speak to another individual with such lack of respect. Just because this profession has a large portion of abusive individuals doesn't mean it is right. Unfortunatly it is the way this subculture developed. Fortunatly there are many changes happening in this profession, in the future these type of egotistic individuals won't be able to get away with what they get away with now. Try to find another job. Don't let abusive individuals get away with getting off on your account.

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

Nobody has the right to speak to another individual with such lack of respect. Just because this profession has a large portion of abusive individuals doesn't mean it is right. Unfortunatly it is the way this subculture developed. Fortunatly there are many changes happening in this profession, in the future these type of egotistic individuals won't be able to get away with what they get away with now. Try to find another job. Don't let abusive individuals get away with getting off on your account.

What changes are happening ? That most od's will be working for corporations?

 

[Opii]

Changes in regards to how students get mistreated. seems professors are getting told to bring it down a notch. In the profesional world I don't know whats going on now except his story sounds much like mine when I was a tech.