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I was rambling in my blog and thought "maybe I should post this in a separate post and get some opinions...."
So here goes....it's just cut and pasted from my blog....with some add'l info at the end.
With regards to the clinic and my job. I want to ask for a raise....but I've never done that before and I don't really know how to do it. I've put a call to one of my best vet friends (who is in San Antonio right now for a conference - I tried to go Jenn but couldn't bear the 8-ish hour drive right now)....I'm hoping she can help me work through this. I pulled the numbers and while I'm not an overall big producer at the clinic, I do have the highest "average client transaction" by a good margin....my problem is just that I don't see as many clients as everyone else. Partly because of my hours and partly because I'm the new guy. I've been there a year now and do have a few of my own clients now....people who always request me....and I'm building that....there isn't a good way to track that in the computer though....it's people who ask for me when they get there....the chart isn't flagged or anything. And I've definitely brought a lot to the clinic. I've updated some standard procedures (like IVs during anesthesia) which bring the clinic money....I also recently made a pain med switch and an anesthetic protocol switch that should save the clinic money as well (while improving patient care). I have gotten them to spend some too, but part of it is the fact that things needed to be updated, and my squeaky wheel was enough to move things forward! I worry that if it's not well received, I might make waves for myself... I could probably find another vet job pretty easily....but I probably would have to start over in updating another practice....I'm finally getting these techs trained well!
I also worry that I want more money, but at the same time I'll be taking a few months off for maternity. I don't have a contract (kinda scary both ways I know)....and I don't get benefits (they do pay some association dues and my malpractice insurance)....and I won't get paid maternity leave.....I just get paid hourly. I feel like I should get something for inflation each year right? I don't know.
I work 20 hours a week....sometimes more if they need me or to cover for the other vets. I'm paid by the hour. I don't clock in and out....so sometimes (ok oftentimes) I'm there more than 20 hours/week that I'm not compensated for.....I probably could just "leave" but I like to make sure my work is done and there isn't any confusion about transfer of care, etc. And I won't leave an animal intubated without a doctor in the building.
My maternity plan is to take Jan, Feb and March off. I plan to work until 38/39 weeks provided my health/BP is fine. I still do surgery, but I don't take xrays now that I'm pregnant. We don't do chemo at our clinic, so no probs there as far as decreased duties goes. My role/responsibilities haven't changed much since becoming pregnant. I was training the techs to take films on their own anyways.
I'm thinking about a 10% per hour increase.
There are 2 old timers (dad and old guy) at the clinic and another "new" grad (son) like me (we're both 2005 grads). The 2 old timers (dad and old guy) owned the practice last year, the other "new" grad (son) bought the practice from one of the old timers (old guy)..effective Jan 1st, 2008...and the old timer (old guy) now works part time (~24h/wk). The FTers (dad and son) work about 40h/wk. The two old guys (obviously) have the most "private" clients....the son has been there 2 years longer than me and of course knows people b/c he's the son and has been there longer. I'm totally the new guy, but I'm building.
Last year when the two old timers were both FT, they saw about 30% of the patients each. The son (FT) saw about 20% and I (PT) saw 6%.
So far this year, the FT dad saw ~34%, the PT old guy saw ~22%, the FT son saw ~18% and I've seen 10%....so I'm definitely gaining.
Also the avg transaction fee (amount the client spends/visit)....I'm higher by $20-30...everyone else is within $10 of each other and I am consistently $20 above the leader and this past 5 months have been $30 over the leader. So I get people to spend more than everyone else. (You all know me, so you probably already get that I'm not trying to screw people out of their money and wasting it on their pets.....my bills are higher because I do extra testing/pain meds/IVs that I feel are essential to proper patient care....I don't just give a steroid/antibiotic/vitamin combo shot.....I culture for the right antibiotic, I do blood testing to look for kidney/liver/etc disease.....I take xrays to rule out obstructions/masses/broken bones/heart/lung problems...which the other vets don't always do.)
As far as the contract, I've signed nothing but the W2/tax paper thing....We agreed on a schedule and an hourly wage and shook on it. When we changed my schedule, I proposed part of the change, he adjusted it and we just agreed on it. When I told him (the dad handles everything) I was pregnant he asked what I was thinking for leave. I told him 3 months, but I wasn't totally sure...it depended on the circumstances (like if I have another early NICU babe, I will want more leave). If I want something like CE or association dues covered, I just ask if they are planning on covering it or if I should. Usually they just cover it. I paid for my DEA licensure. So nothing is set really. When I want days off, I just ask and I usually get them with no problems....like the 3 weeks I took last summer.
I guess the reasons I'm worried is that Russ said yeah ask....they worst they can say is no. I don't want a stigma that I think I deserve more or something even though I do. My mom says don't ask, don't rock the boat, you are only there 2 more years and you're going on maternity leave soon....I also want an outside opinion if it sounds like I'm worthy of a raise. Or maybe I need to prove x, y, z before or whatever.
This is sooo something they don't really teach in vet school....nor is it something I ever dealt with before vet school...(hello, high school to college to vet school to unpaid internship to this.....this is my first real job!). In high school my boss just doled out raises as he saw fit...and I got one every few months....I really didn't have any other jobs after that (waited a few tables, did some nannying, that's it). So I feel like such a little kid when it comes to this stuff.
Anyway, if you've made it through this diatribe, I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions.
So here goes....it's just cut and pasted from my blog....with some add'l info at the end.
With regards to the clinic and my job. I want to ask for a raise....but I've never done that before and I don't really know how to do it. I've put a call to one of my best vet friends (who is in San Antonio right now for a conference - I tried to go Jenn but couldn't bear the 8-ish hour drive right now)....I'm hoping she can help me work through this. I pulled the numbers and while I'm not an overall big producer at the clinic, I do have the highest "average client transaction" by a good margin....my problem is just that I don't see as many clients as everyone else. Partly because of my hours and partly because I'm the new guy. I've been there a year now and do have a few of my own clients now....people who always request me....and I'm building that....there isn't a good way to track that in the computer though....it's people who ask for me when they get there....the chart isn't flagged or anything. And I've definitely brought a lot to the clinic. I've updated some standard procedures (like IVs during anesthesia) which bring the clinic money....I also recently made a pain med switch and an anesthetic protocol switch that should save the clinic money as well (while improving patient care). I have gotten them to spend some too, but part of it is the fact that things needed to be updated, and my squeaky wheel was enough to move things forward! I worry that if it's not well received, I might make waves for myself... I could probably find another vet job pretty easily....but I probably would have to start over in updating another practice....I'm finally getting these techs trained well!
I also worry that I want more money, but at the same time I'll be taking a few months off for maternity. I don't have a contract (kinda scary both ways I know)....and I don't get benefits (they do pay some association dues and my malpractice insurance)....and I won't get paid maternity leave.....I just get paid hourly. I feel like I should get something for inflation each year right? I don't know.I work 20 hours a week....sometimes more if they need me or to cover for the other vets. I'm paid by the hour. I don't clock in and out....so sometimes (ok oftentimes) I'm there more than 20 hours/week that I'm not compensated for.....I probably could just "leave" but I like to make sure my work is done and there isn't any confusion about transfer of care, etc. And I won't leave an animal intubated without a doctor in the building.
My maternity plan is to take Jan, Feb and March off. I plan to work until 38/39 weeks provided my health/BP is fine. I still do surgery, but I don't take xrays now that I'm pregnant. We don't do chemo at our clinic, so no probs there as far as decreased duties goes. My role/responsibilities haven't changed much since becoming pregnant. I was training the techs to take films on their own anyways.
I'm thinking about a 10% per hour increase.
There are 2 old timers (dad and old guy) at the clinic and another "new" grad (son) like me (we're both 2005 grads). The 2 old timers (dad and old guy) owned the practice last year, the other "new" grad (son) bought the practice from one of the old timers (old guy)..effective Jan 1st, 2008...and the old timer (old guy) now works part time (~24h/wk). The FTers (dad and son) work about 40h/wk. The two old guys (obviously) have the most "private" clients....the son has been there 2 years longer than me and of course knows people b/c he's the son and has been there longer. I'm totally the new guy, but I'm building.
Last year when the two old timers were both FT, they saw about 30% of the patients each. The son (FT) saw about 20% and I (PT) saw 6%.
So far this year, the FT dad saw ~34%, the PT old guy saw ~22%, the FT son saw ~18% and I've seen 10%....so I'm definitely gaining.
Also the avg transaction fee (amount the client spends/visit)....I'm higher by $20-30...everyone else is within $10 of each other and I am consistently $20 above the leader and this past 5 months have been $30 over the leader. So I get people to spend more than everyone else. (You all know me, so you probably already get that I'm not trying to screw people out of their money and wasting it on their pets.....my bills are higher because I do extra testing/pain meds/IVs that I feel are essential to proper patient care....I don't just give a steroid/antibiotic/vitamin combo shot.....I culture for the right antibiotic, I do blood testing to look for kidney/liver/etc disease.....I take xrays to rule out obstructions/masses/broken bones/heart/lung problems...which the other vets don't always do.)
As far as the contract, I've signed nothing but the W2/tax paper thing....We agreed on a schedule and an hourly wage and shook on it. When we changed my schedule, I proposed part of the change, he adjusted it and we just agreed on it. When I told him (the dad handles everything) I was pregnant he asked what I was thinking for leave. I told him 3 months, but I wasn't totally sure...it depended on the circumstances (like if I have another early NICU babe, I will want more leave). If I want something like CE or association dues covered, I just ask if they are planning on covering it or if I should. Usually they just cover it. I paid for my DEA licensure. So nothing is set really. When I want days off, I just ask and I usually get them with no problems....like the 3 weeks I took last summer.
I guess the reasons I'm worried is that Russ said yeah ask....they worst they can say is no. I don't want a stigma that I think I deserve more or something even though I do. My mom says don't ask, don't rock the boat, you are only there 2 more years and you're going on maternity leave soon....I also want an outside opinion if it sounds like I'm worthy of a raise. Or maybe I need to prove x, y, z before or whatever.
This is sooo something they don't really teach in vet school....nor is it something I ever dealt with before vet school...(hello, high school to college to vet school to unpaid internship to this.....this is my first real job!). In high school my boss just doled out raises as he saw fit...and I got one every few months....I really didn't have any other jobs after that (waited a few tables, did some nannying, that's it). So I feel like such a little kid when it comes to this stuff.
Anyway, if you've made it through this diatribe, I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions.
They have carpet?! Wall to wall carpet? Really? In a vet clinic? Where all sorts of pets are nervous and sick?! I don't think I've ever been in a vet clinic that had carpet anywhere. Area-rug type things, yes, but not carpet.
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