Worried About Job Security and Timely Pay at a New Hospital? Here's How to Protect Yourself Before Joining

Hi, I am a doctor. I recently received a job offer from a hospital. After discussions about the job and salary, I decided to join the position starting on 16th August 2018. They have not provided me with an appointment letter or a joining letter. I requested them to give me the joining letter on the day of joining. However, in the meantime, one of my friends, who is a former employee of the same hospital, warned me that the hospital often asks doctors to discontinue their jobs without any termination letter and, moreover, they don't pay for the period worked.

Precautions before joining

My query is, what precautions should be taken before joining to ensure I receive a notice period before they ask me to leave? Additionally, how can I ensure they pay my monthly salary on time? Please guide me.

Employees are the best brand ambassadors of an organization. Had I been you, I would have checked more about the employer in my doctor fraternity. I would have connected with at least 5 doctors who worked there in the past and would have taken their feedback on this particular hospital. Based on this, I would have decided to accept or join the hospital.

If you have considered joining them, whenever you join a new employer, ensure that you are given an offer and an appointment letter on the day of joining, with "terms of employment" clearly mentioned. Take time to go through it, seek clarification if required before acknowledging it.

Wishing you all the best for your career!! :)

Regards,
Rahul Chhabra

"They have not given me any appointment letter or a joining letter."

Not a good sign. Shows poor HR practices. If an employer is bad, it is not worth joining and working for free in such places. Look for other jobs.

If they give me the appointment letter and the joining letter with the above-mentioned terms of employment on the joining day and later they don't pay me, how do I proceed?

The very first time they delay or don't pay you - represent it in writing and see their response or non-response. Then raise the issue to the MD level and observe. However, taking these steps increases the risk of losing your job.

In that case, you can take the legal course of action as relevant to your nature of employment. However, my family doctor always advised, "prevention is better than cure." Relationships that start with doubt and uncertainty have less probability of being successful. If you are certain that they would default on your payments, it's better to not join them unless you want to show that you are in active employment.

Rahul

Dear Doctor,

The conduct of the hospital management does not appear to be clean. It has created a lot of hesitation and uncertainties in your mind.

The hospital does not seem like the place where you can entrust your destiny and risk your career amidst uncertainties. I advise you not to join this place and consider moving to another.

Regards,
Vinayak Nagarkar
HR Consultations