One of the employment laws that affect how you manage your staff is the The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This is a federal law that requires certain employers to provide their employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain qualifying reasons. These reasons include the birth or adoption of a child, the care of a family member with a … [Read more...] about What does FMLA require of a law office employer?
Managing staff
Coming out at work
By Lynne Curry “He’s talented but anti-social,” the business owner said of his accounting manager when he called. “At first, we thought the problem was that “Gene” was a finance type and kind of a geek. But there have been odd comments from others over the last two years,” explained the business owner as he asked for my help as an HR consultant. “The latest problem is he … [Read more...] about Coming out at work
How to support an employee who chooses to come out at work
Supporting a staffer who has chosen to come out at work can be an important way to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace for all employees. Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people’s self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity. Here are some ways you can support an … [Read more...] about How to support an employee who chooses to come out at work
Still managing remote staff? 8 tips to do it better
As lawyers continue to drag their feet about returning to work at the office, many legal support staff also want to continue to work remotely. Unless your law office is taking a hard stance about working on the premises, it's likely you will continue to supervise some of your team from afar. While managing a remote workforce can present its own set of challenges, it can also … [Read more...] about Still managing remote staff? 8 tips to do it better
Managers hold the key to employee engagement and retention
With many workplaces now allowing hybrid work, new complexities in managing the workplace are emerging, says the The Conference Board in a new report. Recent evidence suggests that productivity among US workers has declined significantly from heights experienced during the pandemic. Remote and hybrid work arrangements combined with ill-prepared managers may be a cause. Why it … [Read more...] about Managers hold the key to employee engagement and retention
Praise is nice but a year-end bonus is better
A year-end bonus can be a powerful tool for reminding your staff their hard work and commitment and the company’s overall growth and success are closely intertwined. And according to a survey of employers, 50% of companies plan to award year-end bonuses in 2022. While this is down from 63% last year, it’s a sign that staff retention remains top of mind for many … [Read more...] about Praise is nice but a year-end bonus is better
Do you just open your mouth and let the words fly?
By Lynne Curry When you’re upset with another person, do you open your mouth and let your emotions erupt and words fly? If you want to resolve an interpersonal conflict, you can’t afford to blast the other person. While you may feel vindicated, you risk the other person attacking back, getting defensive or shutting down If you want things to become better and not worse … [Read more...] about Do you just open your mouth and let the words fly?
3 questions to ask in your daily standup meetings
A daily standup meeting can be a highly effective way to keep your staff motivated and moving on important tasks. This 10-minute meeting, used in a variety of workplaces, provides an opportunity for a quick check-in on the day’s priorities. As the name implies, participants stand up—a posture that discourages long discussion. The meeting is so short no one bothers to find a … [Read more...] about 3 questions to ask in your daily standup meetings
Inflation’s impact on employees and the workplace
By Lynne Curry What keeps your employees and coworkers up at night, and what does it mean to you as their employer or colleague? According to the U.S. 2022 Inside Employees’ Minds Report conducted by the HR consulting firm Mercer, which surveyed 4049 employees between Aug. 26 and Sept. 9, 2022, it’s financial … [Read more...] about Inflation’s impact on employees and the workplace
5 lessons employers can learn from Elon Musk’s Twitter crises
By Lynne Curry When multi-billionaire and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk acquired Twitter on Oct. 27, he assumed leadership of a company that hadn’t earned a profit in eight of its ten years, By Nov. 4, eight days later, 1.3 million users had fled Twitter. Revenue dropped dramatically as advertisers, Twitter’s main revenue source, pulled out. One could feel sorry for … [Read more...] about 5 lessons employers can learn from Elon Musk’s Twitter crises