Provisions to Include in an Associate Contract

All dental associate contracts should include the following items:

1. Restrictive Covenants – protects confidential information including: patient source lists, referral source lists, non-competition within a geographic radius, non-solicitation of patient and referral sources, and non-solicitation of staff or services 2. Associate Compensation – dollar amount per month for full-time or a percentage of adjusted production 3. Discretionary and Other Bonuses – states the bonus formula based on productivity or quality and overall performance – includes other bonuses pertaining to signing, relocation, and student loan – states the predetermined period of time to remain with the practice to avoid repayment​ 4. Expenditure of Time – defines the designated work schedule 5. Direct Business Expenses, Benefits, and Insurances – usually paid by the practice for full-time associates 6. Liability Insurance – states specified coverage limits – usually paid for by the practice for full-time employees – should cover the practice as a “named” insured 7. Vacations and Time Off – provides guidelines for paid or unpaid time off for each 12 months of the employment term (cumulative vs. non-cumulative, amount of notice needed, etc.) 8. Termination of Employment – includes discretionary termination provision without notice by either party for the first 6 months of employment and a notice provision