It’s important
to know what you should and shouldn’t do if you are asked to meet with your
employer. As a Doctor in Training (DiT), you may feel anxious, but these tips
should make the process a little easier and less daunting.
Should I seek
advice?
Yes. You should seek advice from Avant or another
adviser.
Do I have to attend the meeting?
Generally, yes. Your
employer can request you to attend a meeting to discuss matters related to
your employment.
Depending on the issues being discussed at the
meeting, it may be better for you to provide a written response to your
employer. This is something you should discuss with Avant or your
adviser.
What should I know before the meeting?
Some questions
that you might want to ask include
- Who will be at the meeting?
- What is the meeting about?
- Where and when will the meeting
be?
- Are there any relevant
documents and, if so, can you provide them to me?
Can I
take someone with me to the meeting?
Yes, you should take a support
person with you to the meeting.
How should I respond to questions
during the meeting?
- If you don’t
know the answer to a question, say “I don’t know.” Don’t guess the
answer.
- If you don’t understand
the question, ask for it to be repeated or explained.
- Keep your answers short and concise (for example, say
“yes” or “no” and go no further)
- Do not volunteer information
- Be accurate
- Do
not exaggerate
- State the basis
for your comments if relevant (for example, “I observed …” or “I heard…” or “Dr
x told me that …” or “I measured the heart rate by x and recorded it to be
y”)
- Do not agree with something
unless you know it to be true from your own direct
observations
- Do not speculate (for
example, “I may have done that because …”). If asked to speculate, it is OK
to say that you don’t know
- If
you think there is a record relevant to what you are being asked, request a
copy of it (for example, time sheets, clinical records, appointment diaries
showing failures to attend). You should not answer the question without first
reviewing the record
- If you
need to review a patient’s record to refresh your memory about why you made a
clinical decision, then request the time and opportunity to do so – somewhere
quiet without interruption or pressure.
My employer wants
to meet with me immediately. What should I do?
You should tell you
employer that you would like to take a support person with you to the
meeting. You should try to find a support person at short notice.
You should listen to what is said during the meeting but you should not
feel compelled to respond to matters immediately if you need some time to
think about things.
Can I take a break during the meeting?
Yes.
If you feel that you need a break, you should ask for a short adjournment of
the meeting.
What should I do after the meeting?
- Make a file note of the matters that were discussed
during the meeting
- Follow up on
any matters that you promised to address during the
meeting
- Seek further advice if
you think the matter will go further.
What else should I
do?
It’s important for you to look after your own health and
wellbeing. You should seek emotional support from your treating medical
practitioner or other professional if you are feeling anxious and stressed.
You can also call Avant’s Personal Support Program on 1300 360 364 for
confidential counselling.
Learn more
For more tips download
Avant’s factsheet: ‘What to
do when requested to attend an employment
meeting.’
Share your view
We welcome your feedback on this article – email the Editor at: editor@avant.org.au