Not so Comfort-able

There has been so much emotion in our lives lately that I think it's time I get it written down, simply to document what is happening.  Jeremy is trying to switch offices, and it's the scariest thing we've ever done.  

About a year ago Jeremy and I realized that we needed to make a change.  Things in his office weren't going well.  True, he wasn't bringing home the paycheck he wanted, but that wasn't what drove him away.  He was not blending well with his partners.  To put it simply, they have different goals and are each working towards those individually instead of working together as partners to improve their practice.  This has been really driving Jeremy crazy.  There were days when he came home feeling like the only partner who was actually present in the office.  The only one who was dealing with the books, with the supplies, with the assistants, and other daily fires that popped up.  He tried to get everyone working together but it simply wasn't working.  He finally came to the realization that in order to accomplish his personal professional goals, he was going to need to be in a different office.  

At this point we started talking with the doctor who sold Jeremy his share in the office, as well as tried to start a communication with corporate letting them know what was going on.  We didn't expect them to solve our problems for us, we simply wanted their help.  We had hoped that they could transfer us to another office, or at the very least talk with the other partners and let them know they needed to step up their game.  We didn't receive any help at all.  They didn't try to open a dialogue between themselves and Jeremy, they simply told him to tough it out.  What they didn't fully understand was that Jeremy has been "toughing it out" for two years already.  He was already at his breaking point.

In March of this year Jeremy listed his practice for sale.  We had hoped that with new graduates coming out that we would be able to sell it quickly.  Jeremy also did his best to attend the potential partner meetings each month where docs meet to buy and sell practices.  By September we hadn't received one inquiry regarding his practice.  That seemed odd, especially since his is one of the lowest priced Comfort offices for sale in Colorado.  Even if we had received a phone call and the new doc wasn't interested in Jeremy's office we would have been okay with that.  But we didn't receive one inquiry.  In order to buy a Comfort office you need to attend those partner meetings.  What seemed to be happening was that corporate would give their sales speech saying how wonderful each Comfort office was, then in the next sentence explain that the out of state offices are the best idea.  They have the most potential for growth and they're priced even lower that the established Colorado offices.  In essence, corporate was turning against their docs here and undermining their selling goals.

During this time Jeremy was looking for another office out of Comfort.  We didn't want to miraculously sell his office only to have nowhere to go.  He found an office that he's excited about.  The partner is ambitious in his goals and is willing to work hard like Jeremy.  The management is credible and honorable.  They make a practice of helping find the best fit for each doc and helping them work through problems they may have.  This is in very stark contrast to the Comfort management who seems to do a lot of name calling and throwing their docs under the bus.  

This new office was slated to open in July, but due to construction delays is now opening on November 22.  Jeremy still hasn't sold his office and is now out of time.  Because of contract issues, Jeremy can't work at both offices at the same time, and has made to make the decision to walk away from his current practice.  He owns his practice.  He has been making payments on it for four years, and now he simply has to walk away from all that equity as well as what he still owes.  This is not what he wants.  For a year we have been trying to do the right thing and get everything squared away.  It is making Jeremy sick walking away from this office.  When he walks he hurts his current partners, his assistants, the doctor we originally purchased it from, and ultimately Comfort's reputation.  Jeremy has a good heart and the idea of walking away from these people is killing him.  It was not a decision we came to lightly and we really feel like leaving this office is the best choice for us.  

Now we are running into a slew of problems.  It seems as though no one believed Jeremy when he said that he was leaving originally.  Now that Jeremy has given his two weeks notice to corporate and his partners, they are doing everything they can to get him to stay.  They will be cutting franchise fees and interests rates to entice him.  Unfortunately it's too little too late.  Had they offered this a year ago when Jeremy was struggling and frustrated we probably would have taken the deal.  But now other things are in motion and we've made our peace with our decision.  

What is scaring the living daylights out of us is that now that corporate knows we're not bluffing, they are turning mean.  In their last meeting with Jeremy they threatened him with law suits.  Not just one, but multiple law suits.  They promised to make an example of him and prove that doctors can't just walk away from them without a consequence.  They are even going to force his partners, previous doctors, and franchise members sue him.  They are going to do their best to make Jeremy's life miserable for years.   It goes without saying that this is not the kind of company we want to work with anymore.  Now Jeremy has one more meeting with Comfort this afternoon that was scheduled to help convince Jeremy it is in his best interest to stay at Comfort.  I am terrified about what is going to be said at this meeting. Right now I'm praying that corporate has a soft heart and will understand that what we are doing is not intended to be malicious, but just that there was too little communication early on in this problem and it's time to cut ties.  

Unfortunately, nothing is as simple as it seems.  Jeremy's office just qualified for medicaid funding which gives each doctor $16,000.  That is not chump change.  That is bonus money for simply seeing medicaid patients.  Jeremy has been trying to qualify for this funding for months, and now it finally came through.  If we walk, we lose that money.  That money would make a huge difference in our financial situation right now.  For the first time in two years we wouldn't be stressed about paying bills.  But as tempting as that money is, it's just money.  I don't care about $16,000 if it means my husband is still unhappy at work.  That money doesn't solve our problems, but it's hard to let go.  The docs who know Jeremy and his situation are also on the wrong end of this deal.  They don't blame him for going and are sick with worry about what corporate is going to force them to do to him.  It just seems wrong.

I'm just really scared about what is going to happen if Comfort does decide to sue.  What happens if they win the three suits they are threatening to put against us?  I wouldn't be surprised if they totaled one million dollars in restitution.  Who has that kind of money?  How on earth are we supposed to pay back a one million dollar suit plus lawyer fees?  It makes me sick thinking about it.  We are talking with our lawyer about the possibility of us winning.  Jeremy may be having that conversation right now actually, but I don't know the answer.  It had better be yes.  Comfort doesn't care if they lose, they just want to drag us through the mud.  But I definitely care if we lose.  It would be life-changing.  
When first we started with Comfort, current doctors told us that it was like wearing golden handcuffs.  You were paid well, but your hands were tied. We were never really paid well enough to have them described as golden handcuffs.  You can put up with a lot if the pay check is right. We were also told it was like working for the mafia.  At the time I didn't fully understand how truthful those statements were.  I really feel like we are being trapped, bullied, coerced, and threatened to stay with this company.  I do not want the rest of my husband's professional career to be dictated like that.  It is his life and he should have more say in where he spends his days working.  I never knew I could feel this betrayed by a job.  We may have more answers by the end of the day, or we might not.  I just really want the stomach turning, gut-wrenching heart-ache to end.