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Home » topics » Employee benefits
EMPLOYEE RETENTION

Create work schedules that keep your hourly staff happy

May 30, 2023 by

While scheduling may appear as a routine task, its importance in retaining hourly employees cannot be overlooked. A well-designed and thoughtful scheduling system can lead to increased job satisfaction, higher productivity, and improved staff retention rates. In this article, we will delve into why scheduling is vital and explore strategies for effective scheduling, for staffers that might include legal secretaries, paralegals, legal assistants, personal assistants, records clerks, receptionists, tech support, cleaners, drivers and others, depending on the size and structure of your law office. Stability and predictability Consistency and predictability in scheduling are vital for retaining hourly employees in a law office. By establishing stable work schedules, you demonstrate respect for your employees’ time and commitment to their work-life balance. Hourly employees often face challenges in balancing personal and professional… . . . read more

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7 ways to support mental health in your office

May 9, 2023 by

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a good time to devote some thought to how you can support mental health in your office. Here are some ideas for advancing mental health in the workplace: Encourage open communication: Encourage your employees to speak openly about their mental health and provide a safe space for them to do so. Encourage managers to be approachable and understanding, and provide training on how to handle these conversations. Promote work-life balance: Encourage your employees to take breaks and disconnect from work when they need to. Promote flexible working hours, so employees can balance their work and personal life. Provide resources: Provide resources and tools to help employees cope with mental health issues. These could include access to counseling services, employee assistance programs, or mental health… . . . read more

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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

The nomadic remote employee: Employee dream, employer nightmare

April 11, 2023 by

By Lynne Curry Question: Several of our employees regularly travel out of state. Before the pandemic, they took vacations for several days or weeks. They and we understood they were on vacation. The situation was clear cut. Our current team includes three employees who want to travel and stay for weeks or even months, in places like Hawaii and Thailand or with relatives. While they insist they can work and should receive full paychecks, this doesn’t seem fair to the rest of us who remain onsite and have to pick up the pieces when our “travelers” can’t be easily reached. We agree they can get some work done, but have no way of knowing if they’re putting in 40 hours a week. We tried to explain how messy this felt… . . . read more

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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Model Tool: Catastrophic Leave Program

March 16, 2023 by

Why you need this form:

At first glance, a leave-sharing program appears to be a win-win-win solution for employer, donating employee, and receiving employee.

But despite all of the positives, employers need to be careful when implementing a program like this to avoid some potential administrative, managerial, and tax problems.

. . . download here

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CORPORATE CULTURE

Must love dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles…

March 4, 2023 by

By Lynne Curry Question: When we surveyed our employees last month, we asked them what we could do to make them happier about returning to our company’s worksite. Many of their answers surprised us. The biggest surprise—many employees want to bring their pets to work with them. We’ve discussed this among the management team and have decided to allow pets but want to understand the problems we might get into before moving forward. What precautions do we need to take? Answer: Letting employees bring their pets to work has enormous benefits. It boosts morale; provides opportunities for employees to connect with each other over their pets and helps employers recruit for and retain employees. Start by sending a quick one-question follow-up email asking employees to let you know if they… . . . read more

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MANAGING STAFF

Partnering: Reset your relationship with your employees

February 23, 2023 by

By Lynne Curry You want your employees to work harder. They seem to expect a medal for what they’re already doing. You want your employees to feel happy about returning to the office. They don’t. They’d prefer to work remote. You handed out raises and expected your employees to thank you. Your employees reminded you their wages, even with the raises, haven’t kept pace with inflation. This disconnect may be so extreme that you can’t find enough employees willing to work for what you’re paying them. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, many employers have left jobs unfilled because they can’t afford to pay employees the wages employees demand. If you’re a manager or business owner struggling with the gulf between employee expectations and employer needs, here’s what you… . . . read more

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COMPLIANCE

What does FMLA require of a law office employer?

January 27, 2023 by

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 serious health condition, and the employee’s own serious health condition. In terms of what this means for a law office employer, you are required to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for the reasons outlined above, without fear of retaliation or job loss. The employer would also be required to maintain the employee’s health benefits during… . . . read more

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MANAGING THE OFFICE

Are you considering a pet-friendly office?

January 10, 2023 by

The working world is accustomed to seeing everyone’s pets on video meetings. And some physical offices also allow pets on the premises. Pets in the office workplace can be a controversial topic, as they may be seen as either a positive or negative influence on productivity and the work environment. Here are a few points to consider when it comes to pets in the office: Benefits of pets in the office: Increased morale: Pets in the office can help to improve morale and create a more positive and enjoyable work environment. Research has shown that interacting with pets can help to reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Improved productivity: Some studies have suggested that pets in the office can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction. For example, having a… . . . read more

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Characteristics of a modern compensation plan for lawyers

January 5, 2023 by

By Brenda A. Barnes and Camille Stell A successful compensation plan should reflect shared goals and values. A successful plan also requires trust among the members of the firm. A winning compensation plan aligns the values of the law firm with relevant, up-to-date market data. Here are additional components of a modern compensation plan. Evergreen Compensation plans must be constantly evolving. What worked 10 years ago is likely not working well today and what works today may not work five years from now. The legal system has faced as much change in the past 10 years as in prior decades. Everything about the system has changed, from the amount of law school debt that the majority of young lawyers have, to the changing face of legal competition. Continually reviewing and… . . . read more

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MOTIVATING YOUR STAFF

Praise is nice but a year-end bonus is better

December 13, 2022 by

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 employers, says Robert Half, the specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm which conducted the survey. Presenting employees with a financial reward—whether it’s to acknowledge individual, departmental or companywide success—can help bolster retention and even help with recruitment efforts. It can also be a motivational tool for driving team productivity and engagement in the year ahead. A year-end bonus can help employees feel like they make… . . . read more

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