Unfair Employment Expectations?

Question

I am a professional medical provider, I am not a computer saavy person, I went to medical school to help heal people..
The practice where I am currently employed has just purchased a very expensive computer program which is by no means user friendly, they are stating that all the providers (except two that are older 70's) HAVE to learn this program or they will be fired.
They have provided VERY little training and have not lessened the patient load to allow us time to try and learn this program.
This was not a condition of employment when I was hired, they just sprung it on everyone. - This program is designed to eliminate all paper charting,so this office would be completely paperless.
I have been a medical provider for over 15 years and have never been exposed to this.
In your opinion is this legal, or can I fight it. If they are making an exception for two providers they should be willing to make one for those who are struggling to learn this. My patients come first. HELP!

Answer 1

I'd check with the EEOC, equal employment opportunities commission (I think), especially if they're making exceptions for 2 and it was not a condition of your employment when you were hired, and they're not providing the proper training.

Keep good documentation of your attempts to learn the program; the hours, days, etc., just in case you might have to sue 'em for wrongful termination or something, if they fire you over this.

Answer 2

You are probably considered an employee at will. This means you can be fired without reason. If you are an employee under terms of an employment contract, you need to consult the terms of your contract.

If they tell you that you are fired because you are Jewish, or a Mexican, or a woman, then you have a claim.

They can call you into the office tomorrow and simply say you are fired. Get out. If you are an employee at will, you have the right to file for unemployment. That's all you have.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Personal computers have been widely available for nearly 20 years. You have no excuse for not knowing how to use one. You certainly do not sound qualified to determine whether or not a program is user friendly!

Enroll in a community education class, call the local school district or the public library to find a free computer education class. It is your responsibility to learn this.

If you fight it, get fired or choose to quit, imagine going through the interview process again. "I lost my last job because I refused to learn how to use a computer."

You're in a medical field. It is unreasonable for you to not accept additional training or classes as part of maintaing your career. Just be glad they aren't requiring additional degrees.

Answer 4

Let me tell you a story of my own.

When I decided to abruptly change careers, I interviewed for a job as the LAN Specialist (computer help guy) at an insurance company that was just starting to handle a huge volume of claims stemming from a major hurricane.

Talk about a baptism of fire! They hired me, and wanted me to start immediately. I had NO TRAINING. Zero. I just had to learn it all as I went along. Before that job, I had never even TOUCHED a laptop computer nor rebooted a server.

Look, at some point, we all have to leave our comfort level.

Ask some of your colleages for a little help. You may be surprised at their willingness to help you. Tell your supervisors you may need a little extra instruction. They might be willing to give you some personal attention of their own.

You only have to learn one computer program. I had to learn so many disparate things I can't even begin to enumerate them all.

Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of perserverence.

Answer 5

I totally understand your plight yet it is within all agency and institute legal guidelines to insist on continuous learning for all employees unless otherwise stated in a legal contract.
Are you Unionized if so check out your options through a Union Rep.

Answer 6

at seventy years old if you are doing paperwork you are not treating patients...you are a professional medical provider but not a doctor. my neighbor asked me to go hunting. he said he was going up north. i went south. tell me where you work so I know where not to go.

Answer 7

If you work for a privately owned business, they have the right to change your employment terms. You have the right to seek employment elsewhere. This is competition in the free marketplace.