Re-negotiating your physician contract with your current employer can feel intimidating, especially if you are already navigating the complexities of patient care. But learning how to advocate for yourself is crucial to ensuring your contract reflects your professional and personal needs. Whether you’re looking to revise your salary, change your work hours or adjust other critical terms, successfully requesting and negotiating these changes can significantly impact your career satisfaction and long-term success.

Evaluate your current contract

Before initiating a conversation with your employer, understand the terms you’re already obligated to. The first step in any contract negotiation is to thoroughly review your existing agreement. You will want to pay attention to pivotal sections like salary and bonus structures, work hours and on-call expectations, non-compete clauses, termination clauses, vacation and continuing medical education (CME) time and other benefits.

By identifying the areas that no longer align with your needs and goals, you will be able to focus your negotiation on specific items rather than asking for a complete overhaul. Additionally, having a clear understanding of your current contract puts you in a stronger position when you discuss revisions to your contract with your employer.

Timing is key

Knowing when to approach your employer is hugely important. Negotiating contract terms isn’t something that can be done at any time. So, approaching your employer at the right time demonstrates your awareness of business dynamics and increases the chances of more productive negotiation. 

Some good times to initiate the conversation may include:

  • At the time of renewal: Many contracts are up for review at the end of a term. This is the most natural opportunity to bring up the subject and request changes organically during conversation.
  • After a significant achievement: If you’ve recently made a notable contribution to your practice, such as bringing in more patients or taking on additional responsibilities, this can be leveraged during a negotiation.
  • When market conditions change: If physician compensation or other market trends have shifted, use data to justify your request for adjustments.

Do your research

Before requesting changes, it’s essential to be well prepared with facts and data. Research the current compensation trends for your specialty, considering regional variations. Websites such as Medscape and Medical Group Management Association can provide valuable insights into salary benchmarks and benefits for your area of expertise.

In addition, understanding the local job market can help you determine your leverage. If there’s a high demand for your specialty in your geographic area or even within your healthcare organization, you may have more negotiating power. By presenting well-researched information, you can frame your requests in a way that’s fair and reasonable, rather than simply asking for more money or better terms without context.

Be clear about what you want

Instead of vaguely stating you want a better deal when negotiating contract terms, come prepared with set requests. Having clear, actionable points helps your employer understand exactly what you’re looking for and allows for a more focused discussion. Specificity is important.

Here are some ways you can phrase some of the more common contract requests:

  • Salary adjustments: “I’d like to discuss aligning my compensation with the 75th percentile based on MGMA data for our region.”
  • Schedule flexibility: “I would like to negotiate more flexibility in my schedule, particularly in reducing my on-call hours.”
  • Benefits enhancement: “Could we explore increasing CME funding and vacation days, especially in line with industry standards?”

Understand your employer’s perspective

It’s important to realize your employer has their own set of priorities and financial constraints, so approaching a contract negotiation with empathy can go a long way with your employer. Framing requests in a way that aligns with the organization’s goals, you’ll be more likely to reach a favorable outcome. For instance, if you’re requesting more time off, you could propose ways to manage the patient load during your absence or help streamline department workflow.

It’s also important to realize certain requests might be nonnegotiable. For example, payment terms (amount, method, frequency, timing of payments), having private office space or getting an assistant . Taking a collaborative rather than adversarial tone is key.

Negotiate with flexibility

Negotiations are rarely about getting everything on your wish list but instead about finding a mutually agreeable middle ground. This means while it’s important to be clear about your priorities, you should remain open to compromise. If salary adjustments aren’t possible, your employer may be able to offer additional vacation days, CME funding or a lighter on-call schedule. Remember, the more flexible you are, the more likely you are to find a solution that will work for both parties.

Consider legal review

It’s always a good idea to have a legal professional review your contract before finalizing any changes. A healthcare attorney experienced in physician contracts can help you understand the legal implications of any revisions and ensure you aren’t agreeing to unfavorable terms. They can also help you identify hidden clauses or potential issues you may not have considered.

Document everything

Once you’ve come to an agreement with your employer, ensure all changes are documented in writing. Verbal agreements can lead to misunderstandings, whereas a written record will protect both you and your employer in the event of a dispute. Make sure the final contract includes all the revised terms and adjustments you’ve discussed and you fully understand the new conditions before signing.

Remember, the ability to negotiate a new contract with your current employer is a critical part of managing your career as a physician. Your contract should reflect not only your worth as a physician but also support your personal and professional growth. Having an agreement that adequately reflects your needs and protects the benefits you prioritize will help increase your job satisfaction and leave you free to concentrate on positive patient outcomes.

For more information on physician contracts and contract negotiation, visit the PracticeLink Resource Center and find out how you can negotiate a physician agreement that works best for you.