day of work
• Any other information you want to include about the practice
Figures 1.18 and 1.19 show sample letters to new employees.
FIGURE 1.18 SAMPLE LETTER TO NEW EMPLOYEE
Rejection of an Applicant
As an act of courtesy, be sure to let other the other job candidates know of your decision. A letter should be sent and their applications can remain on file.
FIGURE 1.19 SAMPLE APPLICATION REJECTION LETTER
Summary
Hiring employees is an important but daunting process, and it may take some practice to develop a seamless system. It is essential to be knowledgeable of state and federal laws during the interviewing and hiring process. While this book offers a general overview of hiring do’s and don’ts, it is not state-specific and laws are constantly changing. The advice of experienced legal counsel specializing in employment law can help avoid potentially costly mistakes.
It is also important that your staff be involved in the hiring process since they will be working closest with the new hire. This has the additional benefit of helping your staff to feel invested in the practice and gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Finally, remember that the more relaxed you are during the hiring process, the more comfortable potential candidates will be. Be sure to encourage an open dialogue, be ready to answer questions, and be positive about the position and your practice.
Chapter 2:
Office Policies
Manual Introduction and Description
Practice History and Description
Nondiscrimination/Equal Employment Opportunity
Dentist Absence/Office Closure
Office Closure Due to Inclement Weather or Uninhabitable Facilities
Chapter 2.
Office Policies
Learning Objectives
• Write a manual introduction and description
• Understand the importance of a practice history and mission statement
• Develop and manage an office schedule
• Create policies for maintaining communal spaces
• Describe various types of office closures and how to handle them
Developing clear and concise office policies now will save time, money and aggravation in the future. This chapter outlines some basic office policies and procedures you may want to implement. This chapter is by no means exhaustive, and you may wish to consult an attorney to discuss your own personal office policies and procedures.
Employee Welcome
The first section of your employee policy manual may include a welcome to the new employee, a description of the employee policy manual, and a mission statement for your practice. This chapter provides sample text for each of these topics, and more.
A “welcome breakfast,” a tour of the office, an invitation to lunch, and words of welcome from each staff member are just some ideas to help your new employee feel like a part of the team.
FIGURE 2.1
Manual Introduction and Description
A brief introduction of the employee policy manual is a good place to state the manual’s purpose, scope and limitations.
FIGURE 2.2
Practice History and Description
Providing a brief history or overview of your dental practice in the employee policy manual can help your employees feel more like a part of your team — even if they weren’t there from the very beginning.
Practice histories come in various styles and lengths. Yours can be as general or as personal as you would like it to be. The most important aspect is to highlight
