By Steve M. Cohen bio When it comes to sick leave in your office of 50 or more employees, you have to follow the doctor's orders regardless of whether or not you think the reason for the leave is justified. Because most office managers are so singularly focused on their firm, they are appalled to learn of all the limitations placed upon them by government rules and … [Read more...] about Employee rules change dramatically with 50 and up
Managing staff
How the Affordable Care Act affects your office policies and practices
You’ve heard a lot of talk about Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). But do you know how how ACA affects your office as an employer? The ACA imposes new obligations on employers. Some of these are already in effect and are continuing obligations you should be satisfying, but others don't kick in until next year or later. Review our summary of the key … [Read more...] about How the Affordable Care Act affects your office policies and practices
How to tame two staffers at war: Keep it civil and focus on the business
A conflict between two staffers is serious business. People who don't get along don't share information with each other, don't help each other out, "and at worst try to sabotage one another." Moreover, there's emotional contagion. Just as a spouse coming home in a negative mood fouls the attitude of the rest of the family, two fighting staffers cast a pall over the office. … [Read more...] about How to tame two staffers at war: Keep it civil and focus on the business
Surveying for rewards
To encourage job satisfaction throughout the office, Matthew J. Bower, administrator at Luhrsen Law Group in Sarasota, surveyed staff to find out what specific types of rewards they wanted to see in their jobs. The firm had always given rewards, and they ran the gamut from plaques to cash to time off to gift certificates. But over the years, what Bower found was that the … [Read more...] about Surveying for rewards
3 quick training tips
Here are three quick applications of new research in the field of learning sciences on how to instill deeper learning in trainees: Present a problem and ask your trainees to try to solve the problem first before providing the solution. Ask trainees to explain how they will use their new skills. This requires them to consider the training in the context of their work and … [Read more...] about 3 quick training tips
Model Policy: Employee computer use and social networking
Why you need this policy: The law governing your right to discipline employees for the things they say on blogs and social networks is still in its infancy stages. But even from the early cases, it has become clear that online conversations are not simply private matters. There's a big difference between bad mouthing a company, supervisor or colleague to a friend in a bar over … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Employee computer use and social networking
How to protect your practice against costly FLSA and EEOC claims
Do an HR audit at the start of each year Today's protection against tomorrow's employment law claims is a human resources audit. An audit is essential to keep the firm's employment processes accurate and current – and also followed, says Joseph Godwin, human resources consultant for F&H Solutions Group in Ashville, NC. The audit needs to be done every year, because with … [Read more...] about How to protect your practice against costly FLSA and EEOC claims
When helping employees is your ministry
By Steve M. Cohen bio I believe that everyone should have a ministry, a personal crusade to help someone. I believe we are placed here to do good things for others. Whether a ministry focuses on helping and making life better for others' children, helping and making life better for the ill and injured, or helping convicted criminals rehabilitate, it's all beneficial … [Read more...] about When helping employees is your ministry
How to sift through and solve staff complaints
This month’s idea comes from a consultant who is also a former medical practice manager. It’s a short and easy way to handle one staffer’s complaint about another. The starting point is to sift through the complaints to identify which ones warrant the manager’s attention and which ones staff should deal with on their own, says Cindy Fondren Muise of Peyton, CO. As a manager, … [Read more...] about How to sift through and solve staff complaints
50 quick training tips
By Michelle Spencer, Senior Trainer, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP bio@txmischief As a trainer for a large international law firm, I'm always looking to the future, and part of that includes staying abreast of what is going on within ILTA (International Legal Technology Association). I've been fortunate to attend the annual conference for the past several years as … [Read more...] about 50 quick training tips