Considerations for Mental Health Professionals During an Employment Exit

Whether you’re leaving your current employer for a new opportunity or to start your own practice, it is crucial for mental health practitioners to be aware of the legal and ethical obligations outlined in their employment contracts. These agreements can be quite complex, and they often contain terms that are very employer-friendly. In this virtual workshop, participants will learn to identify the most common provisions in mental health contracts and what practitioners need to be aware of when leaving an employer, as well as possible legal consequences that may arise if any part of your contract is violated.

Workshop Objectives:

1. Identify common components found in mental health employment contracts, such as notice periods, restrictive covenants, and continuity of care requirements.

2. Understand how restrictive covenants such as non-compete agreements may be enforced for mental health professionals.

3. Recognize potential consequences for breach of contract and best practices to avoid them.

About the Speaker:

Katie Rinkus  is a Partner and experienced business counselor at  The Prinz Law Firm.

She routinely assists owners and management with LLC/corporate formation, the preparation and review of corporate documents and contracts, zoning and licensing issues, partnership disputes, the buying and selling of a business, and general counsel work.

Ms. Rinkus advises on business-side employment issues, including workplace policies, restrictive covenants, employment and independent contractor agreements, and workplace investigations and audits. She has presented on several employment and business topics, including new legal changes for employers in Illinois and misclassification of workers. Her practice supports a wide variety of entities, from small businesses to large companies, and in various industries, including non-profits, healthcare, accountancy firms, and other law firms. 

Before joining The Prinz Law Firm, Ms. Rinkus developed experience in commercial real estate transactions, estate planning, and domestic relations law. She currently serves as a member of the Chicago Bar Foundation Young Professionals Board.