Orthotown June 2020 - 14

message board

Unemployment Vs.
Keeping Staff On (Continued)
After we published posts from this forum in the May issue, it inspired even more conversation about how
Townies are approaching staffing during the pandemic-so we're running the latest ideas and thoughts

[Editor's note: This is a continuation of a conversation that began in March 2020. Below are updates
ranging from March to May on how Townies have adjusted, planned and prepared their offices
during the pandemic. Go online to view the start of the conversation and the rest of the discussion.]

dental1001
Member Since: 06/10/06
Post: 4 of 15

The worry is that they won't come back to work even in May if they don't "feel" like it's safe
enough, since the unemployment is a golden egg for 13 weeks. ■
4/2/2020

charlestonbraces
Member Since: 06/05/09
Post: 5 of 15

Any way out of that predicament? Perhaps, when it's time to reopen, let them know that
they're eligible for rehire now, but will not be at any time later. Basically, now or never. Yes, they
would get paid more to do nothing, but do you really want people like that anyway? If need be,
then you find new people and start over. ■
4/4/2020

ucla98
Member Since: 09/28/07
Post: 6 of 15

I actually don't want all six of my part-time employees to return to work when my offices
are allowed to reopen, because I expect my appointment book will not be as full as before. Some
people will still be afraid of getting COVID-19. The number of new starts will be lower because
of the recession and decline in GP referrals. I really don't want to pay my staff for sitting around
doing nothing because of an empty appointment book. I'd much rather be understaffed than
being overstaffed. The reason I continue to pay my two full-time staff is I want them to answer
patient phone calls and to keep track of the payments from patients' insurances. ■
4/4/2020

tooth1
Member Since: 04/26/09
Post: 7 of 15

In my state, if employees reject coming to work when it is available, they cannot collect
unemployment. It's very simple: I tell them the furlough is over and it's time to work. If they
decide not to work and file unemployment instead, I will be notified by the state and will "protest"
(aka dispute) the claim for that week. In my state, filing unemployment in such a manner is
considered a crime with not only fines but also jail time. My employees are aware of this. This
is not my business policy, this is state law, and I've let them know that I will not participate in
them breaking the law. I'll be forced to protest their claims and they'll face the consequences.
I'm not going to break the law for them. ■
4/11/2020

drjoop
Member Since: 08/01/08
Post: 8 of 15

This is exactly what I'm dealing with now. I asked staff to come back to work in preparation
for reopening. I've been watching and reading information as it becomes available from the state
dental association and the board of dentistry, so I was aware that we would be reopening soon.
I asked my staff to come back to work, and they resisted, saying they weren't comfortable and
that "no one else was doing that yet." I informed them that I wanted to make sure that my office and
staff were ready for reopening, that we had the required systems in place and that we'd be doing this

JUNE 2020 // orthotown.com

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Orthotown June 2020

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