Firing a Dental Employee Professionally & Delicately

It’s likely that, at some point in your dental career, you’ll need to dismiss a member of your staff. If you find that you’re having trouble with a member of your staff, it’s important to go through the proper steps first. This includes providing guidance, offering more extensive training and giving warnings. However, sometimes an employee is just not a good fit, no matter how many tactics you try.

As the owner of your dental practice, it’s important to make sure that you’ve documented all the proper steps you’ve taken to fix the situation. Once this has been done, it may be time to terminate employment. We know that this can be difficult, and there are a few things you can do to make sure it’s done professionally and delicately. 

Letting a Dental Practice Employee Go 

Below are a few things to do when letting an employee go:

• Pay him or her – Before the former employee leaves, make sure to provide him or her with the final paycheck. If this isn’t possible at the time of termination, let the employee know when they can expect their final paycheck.
• Stay positive – There’s no reason why things can’t be kept civil. Make sure to shake your former employee’s hand and wish him or her luck in future ventures.
• Let the rest of the staff know – If you don’t sit down with the remaining staff and let them know what happened, they may begin to spread rumors and gossip. You don’t need to go into details, but we recommend keeping your staff informed.
• Collect any practice property – Make sure to collect any property owned by the practice that may be in the employee’s possession, especially keys to the practice. Additionally, let him or her gather any personal belongings that may be in the office.

We know that it can be difficult to lose a team member, but you can’t underestimate the importance of having good staff members on your team. For tips on making sure your dental practice is successful and profitable or if you have dental marketing needs, please contact Pro Dental Designs today.