tips for negotiating better contract

[Anonymous]

This is a rant about my husband's job. Letting off steam, but maybe you all have suggestions?

My husband just graduated in the medical field in May. He's a doctor at a small practice. We thought highly of the practice, and decided to move our whole life - just bought a house here too. But there were some verbally promised benefits that are not being followed through on.

Basically he was offered a base salary + "pro-sal." The base salary is plenty, but we are still living REALLY tight. So the pro-sal / bonus structure would assist us in progressing against his school debt, investing in some truly necessary things for the home, doing anything fun, and hopefully purchasing a car (our second car has major problems and is 14 years old).

But since moving here, no contract for the "pro-sal" portion has been set up. We were told they'd look at the numbers for the first 6 months, then set some goals, etc. We have this written in an email, but no, it was never a signed agreement (argh, I'm the spouse who really focuses on these things... and I was so busy at the time we moved, or else I would have pushed to get something signed). Now, it's obvious that the bosses are making bank off my husband. Their year-over-year revenue has increased every month, and by more than my husband's salary.

They keep saying they don't have money, but then just leased a BMW M series, constantly go on vacation, continue to give salary to two family members who are hardly there. Gave Christmas bonuses to all staff, EXCEPT the office manager and my husband (a power play...), and yesterday he told me their idiot daughter who "works" there is asking for some remote-operating blinds at a window near her "desk." Except she could just...turn her computer....

My advice to him was to force a meeting. Bring his own contract, so all they have to do is plug in some numbers and sign.

I'd also like to cut and run. We're looking at jobs for him now, but feeling frustrated because it will mean so many changes for our kids, again (changed schools twice in 2015). And we'd have to rent out the new house. I'm willing, but I'd like to stay where we are.

Advice?

[Anonymous]

OP here. And yes he has brought it up to them. The boss keeps putting it off. "Oh yes, we'll get that in place." OK, when? It's easy to say "yes" in passing, but they haven't followed through.

[Anonymous]

Create an escape plan.

[Anonymous]

Definitely get out. Why do you think you'd have to leave your house, though? This is a huge biotech/med area. Tell him to start looking NOW.

[Anonymous]

Well, we bought our house specifically to be 10-15 min away from the practice. We will commute for a time, but eventually would want to move again. We weren't necessarily thrilled about the area we're in, it was just close to work. So yeah, it'd be better to move closer into the city for a lot of reasons.