It’s a question many law firm administrators face at some point, particularly when discussing workforce restructuring: Is it time to…
INFORMATION SECURITY
January 26 is Data Privacy Day. Learn how to safeguard your data
January 13, 2017 by
Do your employees how their information is collected, used, and stored by the devices, apps, and websites they use…
CLOUD SERVICES SECURITY
The opportunities, concerns, and challenges related to adopting cloud services
November 7, 2014 by
According to the New Jersey Institute of Technology, by 2017 two-thirds of all workload will be processed in cloud data centers. Will your firm’s workload be there? Or are you hesitating due to concerns about…
CYBERSECURITY
Two quick tips from a cybersecurity expert
November 7, 2014 by
By John W. Simek bio
1. You are the product: default settings to “steal” your privacy data
It amazes me that nobody seems to read the terms of service or the permission settings when installing software or configuring devices. In this day of instant gratification it seems as though the normal actions are click, click, click on the “I accept” button.
That seems to be what Apple is counting on too. The latest version of Mac OS X Yosemite defaults to send your location information and search query to Apple whenever you use…
OFFICE PROCEDURES
Use a standard calendar entry format firm-wide
August 21, 2014 by
Once you’ve established a policy that all calendar events are to be entered into your centralized calendar system, go one step further and create a standard entry format. After all, there’s no point having a calendar that everyone can access if only a handful of people can understand the entries.
Here’s one format you can implement:
[Professional’s initials] – [Case]: [Manner of Appearance]; [Attorney’s initials]-[scheduler’s initials]
So if Kara E. Smith’s assistant…
OFFICE PROCEDURES
5 benefits of rules-based calendaring software
August 20, 2014 by
1. Use of automated rules-based calendaring software may entitle your firm to discounts for malpractice insurance coverage. Talk to your provider;
2. Automated rules-based systems reduce human errors;
3. The software adjusts for local court rules and…
ELECTRONIC WORKPLACE
HR law and employee social networking
August 1, 2014 by
Can you discipline employees for social networking offenses?
Answer: It depends.
Explanation: Frittering away time, disclosing patient records, bad mouthing the practice and other offenses are grounds for discipline when they occur “off line.” So why should it make a difference if employees do these things online while social networking?
In theory, it shouldn’t.
The problem, of course, is that the HR laws were forged in a different era and haven’t yet caught up with the realities of social networking.
Eventually they will. But until then, you face the challenge of applying 20th…
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Some FMLA questions on using vacation time and counting to 50
July 24, 2014 by
Here are three questions on the Family and Medical Leave Act.
They are answered by Morganville, NJ, management consultant John McNamara.
Briefly, the FMLA requires that employers with 50 or more employees allow up to 12 weeks’ unpaid, jobprotected leave for medical and family reasons.
FMLA time on top of vacation time
A staffer returns from a two-week vacation and asks for the full 12 weeks of FMLA leave.
Can the office count the two weeks of vacation as part of the…
ELECTRONIC WORKPLACE
Employees fired for social networking offenses
October 16, 2013 by
Here are a few examples of cases in which a court or arbitrator upheld the decision to fire an employee for social network abuses. Note that the existence of a clearly written, specific social networking policy was a factor in each of these cases:…
