Should you work without a contract?

I never say “never.” But in this case I’ll make an exception. There’s no good to come of a situation where there is no contract.

Case in point: An chiropractor who is working as an independent contractor at an office. She is being “nibbled to death by ducks” at her office. The doctor wants her to use his business cards, go under his provider numbers. The office manager is concerned that she’s “costing the practice too much” (she’s getting paid $10 an adjustment; not exactly a hardship for the doctor). And she’s bringing in lots of new patient.

This situation is, as they say, fraught with peril. At every turn, this new DC is being taken for granted. What happens if she decides to leave and take her patients with her? She has signed nothing, so there’s no reason she can’t. The older doctor might holler, but it won’t do him much good if there’s nothing in writing.

Neither one of these doctors is in a good position with no contract. If you start working for someone and they say, “We’ll put a contract together soon,” make them do it immediately. Soon never comes.