Do you "like" the idea of office friendships crossing over into social media? More than seven in 10 professionals (71 percent) polled by staffing firm OfficeTeam said it's appropriate to connect with colleagues on Facebook. Slightly fewer feel it's OK to follow co-workers on Twitter (61 percent), Instagram (56 percent) and Snapchat (44 percent). In contrast, less than half of … [Read more...] about Should you ‘Friend’ your co-workers on social media?
Managing staff
How your firm’s telecommuting policies affect your recruiting strategy
If you're rethinking your firm's telecommuting policies, hold on. There is a trend among some larger companies of bringing remote workers back into corporate offices, but candidates still expect work from home options, says new data from the MRINetwork 2017 Recruiter Sentiment Study. And while your intent may be to increase collaboration, creativity, mentoring, and innovation, … [Read more...] about How your firm’s telecommuting policies affect your recruiting strategy
When co-workers can’t get along
Julie A. Aarup, office administrator at the Michigan firm Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, had a problem that many office managers face: contrary co-workers. But rather than trying to mediate, Aarup treated the dueling duo to lunch—with a condition. Problem solved. Twice during my nearly 21 years at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, I had a problem with two coworkers … [Read more...] about When co-workers can’t get along
What to do when an opioid crisis hits your law firm
By Lynne Curry bio The first time you saw "Bill" appear to nod off during a staff meeting, you pulled him aside after the meeting. When you asked if he was okay, he said he was. You gave him the benefit of the doubt because he'd worked for you for three years and been a good employee. You knew he'd recently gone through a divorce and thought maybe he'd had a hard … [Read more...] about What to do when an opioid crisis hits your law firm
90-day goals for success and job satisfaction
A manager's success turns on "what other people are able to accomplish." And to a great extent, accomplishments depend "on how happy they are with their jobs. The happier they are, the more they produce." To encourage success and job satisfaction throughout the office, Matthew J. Bower, administrator at Luhrsen Law Group in Sarasota, set up a 90-day goal plan that covers both … [Read more...] about 90-day goals for success and job satisfaction
Four tricks to improve the hiring process
Beyond the résumé, reference check, and the interview, use these four techniques to improve your hiring process. 1 Identify past mistakes One essential element to consider is the office's history. Before interviewing anybody, look at what has gone wrong in the job when other people have held it and identify what filters need to be set up for the next hiring decision. Look … [Read more...] about Four tricks to improve the hiring process
Recommendations from National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being applauded by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Calling it a "groundbreaking and lifesaving report," the head of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's legal professionals program applauded the recent release of a comprehensive set of recommendations from the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being. "These important recommendations address the longstanding and often hidden behavioral health issues in the legal profession, and … [Read more...] about Recommendations from National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being applauded by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
A telling way to interview job candidates
Everyone walks into a job interview with their best foot forward and a slew of prepared answers. It's your job to sift through what's often a rehearsed performance and find out what the firm will actually get if the person is hired. Here management consultant Manola Robison, CMC, of Robison Management Consulting in Atlanta suggests a novel—and very telling—way to do just … [Read more...] about A telling way to interview job candidates
Follow these best practices of top performers and become more valuable to your firm
It's no surprise that managers rate top performers as their most valuable employees. But what might not be as obvious is the massive impact a top performer has on the organization. A new study by VitalSmarts revealed employees rated by their managers as Nines and Tens on a ten-point performance scale are three times more valuable to the organization than the average … [Read more...] about Follow these best practices of top performers and become more valuable to your firm
What most people would rather do than ask for a raise
Public speaking has long been thought of as a recipe for anxiety, but there's one conversation that makes workers feel even less sure of themselves: Asking the boss for a raise. According to the Confidence Matters study from Robert Half, slightly fewer than half of professionals (49 percent) feel confident when asking for a pay increase, compared to 57 percent who feel … [Read more...] about What most people would rather do than ask for a raise