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Home » topics » Managing staff
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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RISK MANAGEMENT

Workplace political discussions: Strategies for handling what’s coming

May 29, 2023 by

By Lynne Curry Employees care deeply about abortion, gun control, immigration, the uptick in crime, climate change, and other issues that affect their freedom, wallets, and quality of life. As a result, even seemingly innocuous comments concerning news events can escalate into bitter, emotionally charged workplace arguments that alienate coworkers and customers, damage relationships, and negatively impact morale. Here are the facts: More than half (52 percent) of U.S. employees report that sharing their political opinions with coworkers can harm working relationships and negatively affect team productivity, https://www.hibob.com/blog/politics-at-work/. Two out of every five employees (40 percent) report feeling negatively toward their boss or coworkers after discussing political views, https://buddypunch.com/blog/handle-political-discussions-workplace/. One out of every five (20 percent) employees report their coworkers treat them poorly because of their political views, https://www.shrm.org/about-shrm/press-room/press-releases/pages/shrm-study-reveals-20-percent-of-workers-mistreated-due-to-political-views.aspx. Research outlined in… . . . read more

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MANAGING STAFF

How to handle a scamming, scheming staffer

May 26, 2023 by

By Lynne Curry Question: I run a small firm. When I advertised for a new hire, I didn’t find anyone who had the right skill set. “Will” applied. Although he lacked the skills I sought, he interviewed well and said he was willing to learn everything necessary to become my No. 1 employee. I took a chance on him and invested months in training him. He shadowed me, developed rapport with my key clients, and learned strategies I’d spent 20 years developing. We had one skirmish. When he found out how much I was paying his predecessor, he lobbied fiercely for a raise. Although his work didn’t justify the salary I was already paying him, he had good natural talent and I didn’t want to start over with a new… . . . read more

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YOUR CAREER

‘I’m a threat to my boss because I’m smarter’

May 24, 2023 by

By Lynne Curry Over the years of your career, you may have found yourself on both sides of the following situation, first as a bright young staff member and later as a manager dealing with a brash new employee. Question: I am a threat to my supervisor. It’s not my fault, but it may cost me my job. Things were going well between my supervisor and I until last month. In an all-hands meeting, the CEO called on me, saying, “I know who can answer that question. Michael, can you explain it to everyone?” After I finished answering the question, I saw my supervisor’s face, and knew I’d pay a price for being called on. She’s been difficult to deal with ever since. She either ignores or jabs at me… . . . read more

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MANAGING STAFF

Don’t delay if you have to deliver bad news

May 17, 2023 by

By Lynne Curry “It’s not the difficult conversations that bite you the hardest,” I told the manager. “It’s the ones you put off until too late.” I listened to the manager’s reasons and told him, “Here are the risks you take. You dread telling ‘Robert’ what and how he needs to improve because he lashes out at you and remains sullen for days after you’ve counseled him. You finally draft a written reprimand, but before you deliver it, Robert voices a safety concern in front of others. Now your reprimand seems seem retaliatory—and Robert’s an employee who feels justified in reporting his grievance to a regulatory agency.” “You’ve told me ‘Caitlin’ spends more time talking with coworkers than working. She makes lots of errors. You keep hoping she’ll improve, but… . . . read more

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PRODUCTIVITY

Mastering time blocking: A guide for law office administrator and managing partners

May 16, 2023 by

Introduction: As a law office manager, you play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of the firm while overseeing multiple projects and tasks. To effectively manage the demands of a legal environment, implementing time blocking techniques can be highly beneficial. By strategically allocating your time, you can optimize productivity, streamline workflows, and successfully handle projects. Let’s explore how time blocking can specifically benefit you as a law office manager. Prioritize legal case management: In a law office, managing legal cases and providing excellent client service are top priorities. Time blocking allows you to prioritize case management tasks effectively. Allocate dedicated blocks for activities such as reviewing case files, preparing documents, conducting legal research, and meeting with clients. By assigning specific time slots, you ensure that critical case-related tasks… . . . read more


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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YOUR CAREER

Snappy comebacks WHEN you need them

April 27, 2023 by

By Lynne Curry The snappy comeback you wish you’d had when “Jim” sniped at you in the meeting, and you sat frozen and speechless. The silencing comment you wish you’d given “Brenda” when you walked past the break room and you heard her dissing you. Why don’t those comebacks arrive when you need them? Here’s why… When you experience a verbal attack or another threat, your habitual neural pathways get tripped. Your body moves into high-alert survival mode. Your body tenses and heart rate speeds up; you breathe rapidly and shallowly. You feel flushed or sweaty; turn white or red; and may feel nauseated or a knot in your stomach. The solution? Pause and breathe. By pausing and slowing your breathing, you activate your parasympathetic system, slow down your heartbeat,… . . . 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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MANAGING STAFF

Is it time to take the office team out to lunch?

April 11, 2023 by

You might be considering a team lunch for your office staff to celebrate a milestone or to announce upcoming changes. Hosting a business lunch in a restaurant can be a fantastic way to create a professional and enjoyable setting for discussing business matters. Here are some steps to consider when planning a team lunch in a restaurant: Choose the right restaurant: Select a restaurant that is appropriate for the occasion and consider the atmosphere, food, drinks, and location of the restaurant. Ensure that the restaurant can accommodate your team size and dietary requirements. Make a reservation: Reserve the restaurant in advance to ensure that you have a table available, particularly if you are hosting a large group or if the restaurant is popular. This will prevent any delays or disruptions…. . . . read more

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