Writing an employee handbook from scratch can be a very daunting task. Where do you start? What do you include? And how are you going to find time to write the thing? It's tempting to set the job aside and wait until work slows down a bit. Of course, if you wait for the perfect time to write, it's unlikely that you will actually do it at all. So we're here to help you get the … [Read more...] about 8 steps to quickly and (almost) painlessly creating an employee handbook tailored to your firm
Compliance
4 ways to avoid the accidental attorney-client relationship
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio What is the accidental attorney-client relationship? This is a relationship that is formed most often after the potential client has consulted with an attorney and the potential client leaves the office mistakenly believing that the attorney has "taken their case." The key to this accidental relationship is that the attorney-client relationship has … [Read more...] about 4 ways to avoid the accidental attorney-client relationship
Model Employee Social Networking Policy
Why you need this model policy: This model policy will help you protect your practice from the potential threat posed by employee blogging, tweeting, Instagramming, and other social networking. How this model policy helps you: The key to protecting your practice is by implementing clear and specific policies to establish your right to discipline employees for social network … [Read more...] about Model Employee Social Networking Policy
7 steps to safely terminating an employee
Properly terminating an employee to minimize the chances of repercussions starts with gathering all the facts and considering all the factors, says HR attorney Chris Lessard, J.D. Solution Center Advisor to CEDR HR Solutions. Here are his recommendations on how to do that, in seven steps. Step 1: Separate the relevant from the irrelevant Your first step involves reviewing … [Read more...] about 7 steps to safely terminating an employee
Can your employee handbook help you safely terminate an employee?
If you ever need to terminate an employee, one of the best tools you can have is an employee handbook that sets out clear policies and is kept up-to-date with changes in employment laws, says Chris Lessard, a California attorney who specializes in HR issues. Lessard, who is J.D. Solution Center Advisor to CEDR HR Solutions, says employee handbooks can protect legal practice … [Read more...] about Can your employee handbook help you safely terminate an employee?
Psychology to use when presenting a staff complaint to a partner
Any complaint from a staffer about a boss is unpleasant to address. But when the alleged culprit is a partner, the situation can get grim. Confronting the partner could put the administrator in a job-threatening position. "It's a touchy situation," says Linnda Durre, PhD, a business consultant and corporate trainer in Winter Park, FL. Durre is also author of Surviving the … [Read more...] about Psychology to use when presenting a staff complaint to a partner
Six easy ways to open the door to a malpractice claim
Answering a malpractice claim is a wretched experience that worsens as it goes along, because once a client files a malpractice claim, “there’s a high possibility that an ethical grievance will come from the same incident,” says Nancy Byerly Jones, a management consultant who focuses on preventive management, mediation, and dispute resolution. … [Read more...] about Six easy ways to open the door to a malpractice claim
Sexual harassment in the workplace: how your practice’s policy can make a difference
Employees are more likely to report sexual harassment they witness at work when there is a zero-tolerance policy in place, according to a new study conducted by Florida International University (FIU). The study's findings show that companies where zero-tolerance policies are a top-priority are particularly effective in increasing the reporting of the most common forms of … [Read more...] about Sexual harassment in the workplace: how your practice’s policy can make a difference
When an employee has body odor
Q: I don't know how to say this delicately, so I'll get right to the point. A staffer at our practice has terrible body odor. Her B.O. is so bad that several other staffers have approached me, saying they don't want to work with her. Also, they have asked me to do something about the situation. I'm usually good at counseling employees, but this particular problem has me … [Read more...] about When an employee has body odor
Is ACA employer reporting still required for 2017 tax year? Are you sure?
Ever since it was signed into law in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been the subject of much concern—and confusion—for employers. This past year has been no exception, due to a handful of attempts by GOP lawmakers to overhaul the controversial legislation. At this time, however, the ACA remains the law of the land, and employers must prepare and report in January … [Read more...] about Is ACA employer reporting still required for 2017 tax year? Are you sure?