Response to my last post?

I find it amusing that my last post incited so many responses. Some people thought it was not appropriate to write a post discussing that staff members might flirt with patients or vice versa and how should a dentist/owner deal with that situation in the real world.

I think we should be mature and understand that our offices are filled with people. Some of those people are staff and others are patients. In the real world, adults will often flirt and be social with one another– this is just the reality of people being people. You can make rules to discourage in office flirting but it will only reduce it – not eliminate it. Social interaction is just part of who we all are – we cannot escape being humans.

I 100% agree that neither staff nor patients should act crudely, say hyper-sexual things or act in an inappropriately manner. If that occurs, it needs to be stopped immediately. Luckily most of the interpersonal exchanges between staff and patients are rather harmless and light-hearted. It is just regular, well-meaning people being social – nothing out of bounds or inappropriate.

I think everyone needs to lighten up a little and stop trying to create a rule for everything. Inappropriate conduct should not be allowed in the office place- period. Any staff member who feels they are being harassed should be able to stop that conduct immediately – and no staff member should act aggressively or offensively to a patient. BUT – regular, normal, social, people-being-people, welcomed, two-way social interactions are fine and cannot be over-regulated.

I’ll say it again – if the conduct would be appropriate at a church social event – then it is fine in a dental office environment.

Dr. Corey Gold
President – Advanced Continuing Education Systems
www.aces4ce.com

Flirting in the Office with Patients???

Yet another grey area in the dental office – lol.

Our offices are typically staffed by young, energetic people who are social and outgoing. Often they will meet patients who they have an interest in and a little harmless flirting will occur. It is not uncommon for staff members and patients to date. I even had one staff member meet her husband in my office. This natural social interaction is fine and not inappropriate when the flirting is not excessive or over-sexual in nature.

I also had one staff member who was constantly inappropriately flirting. She was a very attractive girl with a full figure and she would make sexual jokes and innuendos – making her intentions over obvious. Her conduct often left both patients and staff uneasy. Eventually we had to have a very challenging staff meeting about appropriate office social behavior.

It is not possible to set hard and fast rules about flirting and human interaction in the office. What one person sees as harmless flirtation another sees as hypersexual conduct. My advice to my staff – think you are flirting in church – would your social interaction be appropriate in church – if the answer is NO then it is inappropriate in the office.

Dr. Corey gold
President - Advanced Continuing Education Systems
www,aces4ce.com