Employment Law for Healthcare Professionals
What we know after 30+ years of experience…
Over 36 years of representing healthcare professionals of all types – primary physicians, anesthesiologists, radiologists, RNs, LPNs, CNAs, phlebotomists, and others – we have learned that a common problem is a lack of due diligence and foresight when it comes to employment contracts.
You must do your due diligence.
It’s far too common for a doctor or nurse to find a job and sign their name on the dotted line without a second thought as to what matters and what doesn’t. You must do your due diligence – or have an attorney help perform due diligence on your behalf.
Call 317-426-6995 today.
At the Employment Law Office of John H. Haskin & Associates, LLC, we have experience helping healthcare professionals navigate the entire world of employment law, including:
- Contract review and negotiation
- Breach of contract
- Termination and wrongful discharge
- Hostile environment and harassment
Read below to learn more about our services or contact us now to schedule a consultation.
Contract review & negotiation
Most healthcare professionals, like surgeons, stand to benefit from professional contract negotiation and review conducted by a lawyer. In general, there is much at stake in terms of the healthcare professional’s ability to practice medicine and reap its rewards.
Some important contractual issues include:
- Compensation (income guarantees, productivity formulas, etc.)
- The employer’s expectation of a new employee in re: building a practice
- Covenants not to compete
- Confidentiality
- Non-solicitation
- Contract renewals
- Benefits
- Terms of loan forgiveness
- Restrictions and the consequences of violating restrictions
- Professional liability and related licensure issues
A major component of any contract negotiation is seeking opportunities to reduce or eliminate future conflict and litigation.
At the Employment Law Office of John H. Haskin & Associates, LLC, our goal in contract negotiation is to reach a sound, practical agreement that works for both parties throughout the relationship, one that will maximize a healthcare professional’s ability to establish and maintain a successful career.
Breach of contract
A breach of contract does not necessarily mean expensive and protracted litigation. This especially holds true in cases involving properly negotiated and reviewed contracts, which often contain appropriate safeguards and consequences in the event of breach.
Example: Termination may give rise to a breach of contract claim, especially when the doctor or other provider enjoys the protection of certain contractual guarantees of employment or other conditions that would prevent termination (such as a clause for contract renewal).
Termination & unlawful discharge
Many healthcare professionals have negotiated employment contracts. Even though Indiana is an at-will state (meaning employees can be terminated for any legal reason), the existence of a contract – and the conditions spelled out in the contract – will generally provide a framework for how the dispute will be resolved.
Even those who do not have employment contracts may have a claim for unlawful discharge, depending on the situation. For example, a nurse may have a claim for retaliatory discharge if she is terminated after reporting sexual harassment.
Hostile environment & harassment
Some of the most grievous employment cases aren’t contractual at all – just like employees in other industries, healthcare professionals of all types face unlawful behavior ranging from discrimination to harassment.
For example, you may have been subjected to unwanted and repeated sexual requests from your supervisor, which may give rise to a claim for sexual harassment based on a hostile environment.
Call 317-426-6995
The Employment Law Office of John H. Haskin & Associates, LLC, is located in Indianapolis and serves healthcare professionals throughout Indiana. For more than three decades, we have successfully represented employees in legal disputes with their employers. Our attorneys only represent employees, never employers.