Employment Lawyers for Nebraska

This is a great—and very common—question. Whether the company can legally withhold your performance bonus after resignation depends heavily on how your employment agreement is written and how the bonus is classified. Key Factors to Consider: 1. Is the Bonus Discretionary or Earned? If your contract defines the bonus as discretionary, the employer generally has the right to decide whether to pay it and can condition it on continued employment. If the bonus is based on meeting specific performance goals or metrics, and those have been satisfied, it may be considered earned—even if the payment date is in the future. 2. Does the Contract Require You to Be Employed on the Payout Date? Many agreements include language stating the employee must be actively employed on the bonus payout date. If such a clause exists, the company may be within its rights to withhold the bonus, even if the performance was completed. 3. What Is the Bonus Period? If your bonus was based on a performance period that has already ended (such as a calendar or fiscal year), and you met your goals, you may have a stronger case for claiming the bonus as earned compensation. Georgia-Specific Note: In Georgia, employment is at-will, and courts generally uphold the terms of a written employment agreement. However, Georgia courts have also recognized that earned wages (which can include bonuses if not discretionary) must be paid. If the bonus is performance-based and the company has paid similar bonuses under the same conditions in the past, you may have grounds to assert that the payment is owed. What You Can Do: Review your employment agreement and any bonus policy documents closely. Look for phrases like “discretionary,” “earned,” and “must be employed on the payout date.” If the language is unclear, you may want to consult an attorney to evaluate whether the company is legally permitted to withhold the bonus—or if you may have a claim based on how the bonus was structured and earned. If you would like help reviewing your agreement, I’d be happy to assist.

When drafting an independent contractor agreement, including terms to evaluate the contractor's performance is essential for ensuring quality and accountability. It's important to ensure that these terms are clear, achievable, and fair. Both parties should agree upon these terms before work commences. It's often advisable to consult with a legal professional to ensure that the agreement is legally sound and aligns with both parties' interests. Performance Standards: Define clear, measurable standards for the work. Milestones and Deadlines: Establish specific project milestones and deadlines. Regular Reviews: Schedule periodic reviews for progress checks and feedback. Quality Requirements: Specify quality standards and industry regulations to be met. Communication: Outline expectations for responsiveness and communication frequency. Reporting: Require regular progress reports from the contractor. Performance Metrics: Include specific metrics for evaluating work quality, efficiency, and cost management. Amendment for Improvement: Allow agreement modification for performance improvement plans. Termination for Unsatisfactory Performance: Define conditions for contract termination due to poor performance. Evaluation Methodology: Describe how and by whom the contractor’s performance will be evaluated. Dispute Resolution: Provide a process for resolving performance-related disputes. Confidentiality: Emphasize the importance of confidentiality in project details and evaluations.

Hello. It's great that you're being proactive and want to make sure you're getting a fair deal. Long-term commitments like these require careful consideration. Here’s a few things to consider. First off, consider the compensation. Take a close look at not just your base salary but also any bonuses, incentives, and benefits they're offering. Compare these numbers to what other physicians in your area are getting to see if it's a fair deal. Regarding benefits, factor those into your evaluation. Think about things like healthcare coverage, retirement plans, malpractice insurance, vacation time, and CME allowances. Consider how these perks align with your personal needs and preferences. Also, while money matters, consider the contract length, termination provisions, any restrictions (like non-compete clauses), your expected workload, and opportunities for professional development. It's essential to fully grasp these aspects to see how they align with your goals. Overall, the objective is to think about what matters most to you and whether the contractual terms align with your interests. In the end, your employment agreement should be a win-win for both you and the hospital. Keep in mind that this response is meant to provide general guidance only and is not a substitute for personalized legal advice. Every individual matter is unique. As such, consulting with an attorney to review your employment agreement and address your specific needs is highly recommended. I wish you the best of luck as you venture into this new employment opportunity.

A period of time to evaluate you and to show that you're a good fit for the job and that you are fully qualified for it. At the end of the probationary period, they will either keep you on or terminate you.

In general, contract terms can make someone an employee, but cannot ensure independent contractor status. Essentially, the contract can set out IC terms, but if those terms are not followed in practice, the contract itself can't fix that. Under California AB, there is an exemption for dentists from the strict "ABC" test, but dentists will still need to meet a number of other requirements that are often, in practice, difficult to meet. For example, they would have to be "open to the public" and actually performing the same of similar services for others - so working for a single dental office typically will not pass the test!