By Lynne Curry After the pandemic wound to a close, employers began pushing employees to return to the office. Fifty percent of U.S. employers issued a full or hybrid RTO (return to office) mandate in 2022 and 2023, and almost all employers planned implementing an RTO mandate before the end of 2024. Employers perceived, and many experienced, benefits from implementing … [Read more...] about Who’s going to win the return-to-office battle?
Employee benefits
To-Dos: Your June office checklist
As we near the end of the second quarter, it's a good time to see if the firm, staff, and you are all on track with respect to the goals you set in January or if any course corrections are needed. Here are a few areas you can address. 1. Check the budget. Review the budget to see if and where alterations are needed. Are the goals still appropriate? Are employees making good … [Read more...] about To-Dos: Your June office checklist
Flex-retirement: A win-win strategy for employee retention
Employee retention is not only a cost-effective strategy, but it also helps maintain institutional knowledge and ensures a smoother transition when team members retire. One innovative approach that can facilitate this transition and keep experienced staff on board is "flex-retirement." What Is Flex-Retirement? Flex-retirement, also known as flexible retirement, is a workplace … [Read more...] about Flex-retirement: A win-win strategy for employee retention
Continuous career progression is a way to make staff stay
In the highly competitive legal industry, retaining talented staff is a critical challenge for you as a law office manager. Continuous career progression is a proactive and strategic approach to career development that involves the ongoing enhancement of skills, experiences, and responsibilities over time. This continuous process not only boosts job satisfaction and … [Read more...] about Continuous career progression is a way to make staff stay
How great managers delegate
When it comes to delegating work to staff, managers rarely hit a happy medium. Instead, they tend to fall at the ends of the spectrum: those who do not delegate enough and those who delegate too much. But by far, it is the under-delegators who are greatest in number. And it is under-delegation that most causes employees to lose interest in their jobs. Lack of delegation … [Read more...] about How great managers delegate
To-Dos: Your May office checklist
It can be difficult to focus on work this month. May is when many of us come down with spring fever, yearning to get outside in the garden or the golf course. So this month's checklist is a nice balance of business and pleasure. 1. Start planning coverages for summer vacations. Many firms do not use temporary legal assistants or secretaries anymore. With stepped up … [Read more...] about To-Dos: Your May office checklist
Hybrid work creates a workday dead zone
By Lynne Curry Employees have changed how they’re working—as wise employers race to catch up. Here’s what’s new: Workday dead zone Managers and employees once viewed 4 p.m. as an ideal staff meeting time. Managers could catch everyone in the office before the workday ended yet after peak productivity hours ended. Employees knew the meeting wouldn’t drag on past five … [Read more...] about Hybrid work creates a workday dead zone
Employers need to come to grips with employees’ mental health struggles
By Lynne Curry “I’m not my employees’ babysitter, their mommy, or their therapist,” the CEO insisted. The problem that led to his call—his company’s 2024 employee survey revealed large numbers of his company’s employees expected mental health benefits. “What are these employees thinking?” he asked. “We offer a generous sick leave allowance and they’re asking for paid … [Read more...] about Employers need to come to grips with employees’ mental health struggles
How to support a grieving employee
When an employee is grieving a loss, a good manager can make things a little easier at work. The grieving process is deeply personal and varies from individual to individual, so it’s crucial to approach each situation with empathy and flexibility. Here are some ways officeAll Users management can support a grieving employee: Express condolences: Offer sincere condolences … [Read more...] about How to support a grieving employee
Nurturing talent: Unleashing the potential of employees
Retaining top talent is crucial for the success of any law office. To do so, law office managers must recognize the importance of developing and empowering high-potential employees. By identifying these individuals and providing them with leadership opportunities, you can not only increase their job satisfaction but also enhance the overall performance and growth of your law … [Read more...] about Nurturing talent: Unleashing the potential of employees