Doing Things By The Book: Why Dental Practices Should Have an Employee Handbook

Jordan Uditsky • February 22, 2023

From direct patient care to back-office functions, the team of employees that a practice owner assembles is what keeps the doors open and the wheels from falling off. But like any team, the effectiveness of a practice’s staff depends on everybody being on the same page, pulling in the same direction, and having a clear understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and expectations. In sports, a playbook is what lays all of these things out. For employers, including dental practice owners, an employee handbook can be the foundation upon which they build and retain a top-notch workforce.

 

Nothing in the law requires an employer to assemble and distribute an employee handbook or office manual. But there are many reasons why practice owners should do so. They provide clarity, promote a spirit of teamwork and collaboration, and critically, help owners reduce the likelihood of employment law violations or misunderstandings that could lead to costly claims and lawsuits.

 

Here are five reasons you should consider putting together an employee handbook for your dental practice if you have not already done so.

 

1.  Satisfying Legal Obligations

 

As noted, no law mandates that a dental practice have an employee handbook. But plenty of federal and state laws require employers to provide notice to employees about their rights. From wage and hours laws to health and safety regulations to family leave policies to benefits and rights upon termination, employers expose themselves to liability if they fail to advise employees of their rights as required by law. An employee handbook, regularly reviewed and updated to account for changes in the law, can ensure that any information that must be conveyed to employees is, in fact, in their hands.

 

2.  Protection From Discrimination and Harassment Claims

 

While an employee handbook’s content regarding workplace discrimination and harassment may not prevent any or all such incidents, robust policies against such conduct and well-defined procedures for reporting, investigating, and disciplining those responsible can go a long way towards insulating an employer from potential liability. Your handbook should make it clear that harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated, that victims can come forward and report such misconduct without fear of retaliation or intimidation, and that those responsible are subject to termination.

 

But the best-intentioned policies or procedures are only of value if they are vigilantly and uniformly applied. Failure to follow your handbook’s provisions regarding harassment and discrimination can undermine what could have otherwise been a sound defense.

 

3.  Establishing Expectations

 

For a new employee, the onboarding process involves a lot of learning beyond figuring out how the coffee maker works or where the best spots are for picking up lunch. New employees want to know what is expected of them and what they can expect from their employer. They want to understand their benefits and compensation, time off and leave policies, rules and limitations as to their use of the office’s computer systems and internet, dress code, and everything else that applies to their duties and responsibilities. A well-crafted handbook will lay all of these things out, not only allowing the new hire to have a clear grasp of office policies and practices, but also sparing the employer from having to verbally explain all of these things every time someone new comes on board.

 

4.  Reducing Misunderstandings

 

There is a simple reason that written contracts are preferable over oral agreements. When something is spelled out on a page, it dramatically reduces the possibility of a dispute about what the parties actually promised or agreed to. The same principle applies to an employee handbook. It is much more difficult for an aggrieved employee to credibly say, “that was not my understanding,” when a policy is clearly set forth in a document they acknowledged they read and understood. A handbook can quickly and definitively shut down any claims based on supposed oral statements that contradict the terms therein.

 

5.  Conveying Your Practice’s Values and Culture

 

In addition to the nuts and bolts of an employee’s job responsibilities and the practice’s policies and procedures, an employee handbook can convey the owner’s practice philosophy, culture, and core values. These intangible aspects of a practice can create a shared sense of purpose among your employees and make them feel that they are part of something more than just the source of a paycheck.

 

Grogan Hesse & Uditsky: Lawyers For the Dental Profession

 

A comprehensive and well-written employee handbook can be as valuable to practice owners as it is to their employees. Every new hire should receive a handbook as part of the onboarding process, and every current employee should be given one any time a new handbook is created or updated. Importantly, each employee should sign their handbook, acknowledging that they have read and understand its terms.

 

At Grogan Hesse & Uditsky, we help prepare employee handbooks tailored to the needs of dental practices. We focus a substantial part of our practice on providing exceptional legal services for dentists and dental practices, as well as orthodontists, periodontists, endodontists, pediatric dentists, and oral surgeons. We bring unique insights and a deep commitment to protecting the interests of dental professionals and their practices and welcome the opportunity to work with you.

 

Please call us at (630) 833-5533 or contact us online to arrange for your free initial consultation.

 

Jordan Uditsky, an accomplished businessman and seasoned attorney, combines his experience as a legal counselor and successful entrepreneur to advise dentists and other business owners in the Chicago area. Jordan grew up in a dental family, with his father, grandfather, and sister each owning their own dental practices. This blend of legal, business, and personal experience provides Jordan with unique insight into his clients’ needs, concerns, and goals. 

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If you are a dental professional considering a sale or merger, please contact us at ddslawyers.com at (630) 833-5533 or contact us online to arrange for your complimentary initial consultation. We focus a substantial part of our practice on providing exceptional legal services for dentists and dental practices, as well as orthodontists, periodontists, endodontists, pediatric dentists, and oral surgeons. We bring unique insights and deep commitment to protecting the interests of dental professionals and their practices and welcome the opportunity to work with you. Jordan Uditsky, an accomplished businessman and seasoned attorney, combines his experience as a legal counselor and successful entrepreneur to advise dentists and other business owners in the Chicago area. Jordan grew up in a dental family, with his father, grandfather, and sister each owning their own dental practices, and this blend of legal, business, and personal experience provides Jordan with unique insight into his clients’ needs, concerns, and goals.
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Many dentists and dental practices offer financing arrangements as a way to help patients, especially the uninsured, pay for their care and treatment. For those who utilize third-party vendors for such financing, recently enacted amendments to the Illinois Dental Practice Act impose new disclosure and transparency obligations on dentists and practices and place limits on what staff can do and say in their interactions with patients regarding the subject. The amendments became effective January 1, 2025. With other states enacting or considering similar legislation regarding external patient financing for health care providers, these changes serve as a reminder to dentists in every jurisdiction about the importance of staying up to date on changes in their state’s laws and regulations. Here is what you need to know and do about these changes in order to ensure compliance once the calendar turns to the new year. No Establishing, Promoting, or Assisting With Third Party Financing A dentist, employee of a dentist, or agent of a dentist may not “arrange for, broker, or establish financing extended by a third party for a patient.” That term encompasses and prohibits submitting an application to a third-party creditor, lender, or creditor's intermediary for approval or rejection on behalf of a patient. It also prohibits dental practices from providing patients with software, links, or QR codes that have been customized with the practice’s branding. Practices can, however, provide patients with a third party’s marketing and advertising materials so long as they are not customized to the practice. Beyond providing or displaying generalized third-party advertising materials, dentists and staff cannot do much more in terms of helping a patient apply for or obtain financing. Anyone associated with a practice cannot do any of the following: Complete any portion of an application for financing extended by a third party for a patient or patient's guardian. Provide the patient or patient's guardian with an electronic device to apply for financing extended by a third party. Promote, advertise, or provide marketing or application materials for financing extended by a third party to a patient who has been administered or is under the influence of general anesthesia, conscious sedation, moderate sedation, or nitrous oxide; is being administered treatment; or is in a treatment area, including, but not limited to, an exam room, surgical room, or other area when medical treatment is administered, unless an area separated from the treatment area does not exist. Mandatory Disclosure When discussing or providing applications for financing extended by a third party, a dentist, employee of a dentist, or agent of a dentist must provide the following written notice in at least 14-point font: DENTAL SERVICES THIRD-PARTY FINANCING DISCLOSURE This is an application for a CREDIT CARD, LINE OF CREDIT, OR LOAN to help you finance or pay for your dental treatment. This credit card, line of credit, or loan IS NOT A PAYMENT PLAN WITH THE DENTIST'S OFFICE. It is a credit card, line of credit, or loan from a third-party financing company. Your dentist does not work for this company. Your dentist may not complete or submit an application for third-party financing on your behalf. You do not have to apply for a credit card, line of credit, or loan. You may pay your dentist for treatment in another manner. Your dentist's office may offer its own payment plan. You are encouraged to explore any public or private insurance options that may cover your dental treatment. The lender or creditor may offer a "promotional period" to pay back the credit or loan without interest. After any promotional period ends, you may be charged interest on portions of the balance that have already been paid. If you miss a payment or do not pay on time, you may have to pay a penalty and a higher interest rate. If you do not pay the money that you owe the creditor or lender, then your missed payments can appear on your credit report and could hurt your credit score. You could also be sued by the creditor or lender. If your dentist's office has completed or submitted an application for third-party financing on your behalf, you may file a complaint by contacting the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at https://idfpr.illinois.gov/admin/dpr/dprcomplaint.html or by calling (312) 814-6910." Penalties for Non-Compliance A violation of these new rules and limitations is punishable by a fine of up to $500 for the first violation and a fine of up to $1,000 for each subsequent violation. IDFPR has the power to take additional disciplinary action as well. If you have any questions about these new requirements or third-party financing for dental services generally, please contact Jordan Uditsky at Grogan Hesse & Uditsky. We Focus on You So You Can Focus on Your Patients At Grogan Hesse & Uditsky, P.C., we focus a substantial part of our practice on providing exceptional legal services for dentists and dental practices, as well as orthodontists, periodontists, endodontists, pediatric dentists, and oral surgeons. We bring unique insights and deep commitment to protecting the interests of dental professionals and their practices and welcome the opportunity to work with you. Please call us at (630) 833-5533 or contact us online to arrange for your free initial consultation. Jordan Uditsky, an accomplished businessman and seasoned attorney, combines his experience as a legal counselor and successful entrepreneur to advise dentists and other business owners in the Chicago area. Jordan grew up in a dental family, with his father, grandfather, and sister each owning their own dental practices. This blend of legal, business, and personal experience provides Jordan with unique insight into his clients’ needs, concerns, and goals.
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