As the saying goes, "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." And a manager in a large legal practice in New Jersey did just that to avert disaster in two situations. The first potential disaster was the addition of a time clock. The practice merged with another group, and with the merger came the decision that all staff should keep the same hours. Before … [Read more...] about New Jersey manager turns time clocks and layoffs into staff benefits
Managing the office
Is firing employees for medical marijuana discrimination?
All 7 of the courts that have confronted this issue in the past decade have ruled that employers can enforce zero tolerance drug policies to fire employees for lawful use of medical marijuana. Here’s the rundown: 2013: COLORADO (Federal Court) What Happened: Brewery employee with hepatitis C, fired after testing positive for marijuana, claims use was legal under … [Read more...] about Is firing employees for medical marijuana discrimination?
What state cannabis laws say about cannabis in the workplace
ALASKA: Nothing in law requires accommodating medical use of marijuana in place of employment [Title 17: Food and Drugs, Chapter 37. Medical Uses of Marijuana, Sec. 17.37.040(d)(1)]. ARIZONA: a. Unless failing to do so would cause an employer to lose a monetary or licensing benefit under federal law, employer may not discriminate against person in hiring, termination, … [Read more...] about What state cannabis laws say about cannabis in the workplace
Can your law office employees be fired for using legal medical marijuana?
Testing positive for cannabis is a ticket for termination under the kind of “zero tolerance” policy that has come to pervade the American workplace. But what if employees are medical cannabis patients? Situation Reggie Sturd, an employee of ABC Corporation, tests positive for marijuana. He denies using or being high at work and claims he has permission under the … [Read more...] about Can your law office employees be fired for using legal medical marijuana?
Here’s what you missed at the ILTA 2014 Conference
Technology and training are the future for law offices, judging by the presentations and exhibits at a recent legal technology conference. When the 2014 conference for the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) kicked off at Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN on August 17, Executive Director Randi Mayes felt like she was at a family reunion. "And," she says, "our … [Read more...] about Here’s what you missed at the ILTA 2014 Conference
10 tested ways to make your staff meetings more interesting and productive
A staff meeting should be a productive event that fosters collaboration; however, that’s not always the case. These ten steps will help you plan a staff meeting that results in a positive and focused gathering of ideas. Say the word “meeting” and people tend to groan. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Salary.com, which looks at where and how employees waste time, … [Read more...] about 10 tested ways to make your staff meetings more interesting and productive
The opportunities, concerns, and challenges related to adopting cloud services
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 security, compliance, or management of the services? This infographic created by NJIT’s Online Masters in Computer Science outlines the scale of cloud services and the … [Read more...] about The opportunities, concerns, and challenges related to adopting cloud services
Two quick tips from a cybersecurity expert
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 … [Read more...] about Two quick tips from a cybersecurity expert
Try this “win-win” solution to stop personal Internet use by staff
The manager of a Mississippi professional office relies on a basic management practice when she presents any new policy. “I make it a win-win situation,” says Beth C. Pharr. “I tell staff ‘this why it’s necessary, and this is how it benefits you.’” Such was the case when she set a policy to solve a problem common to almost every … [Read more...] about Try this “win-win” solution to stop personal Internet use by staff
Are you violating state “time off” requirements for employees who are parents?
Although back-to-school season rolls around every year, it always seems to bring a level of stress for working parents. And is it any wonder? A new schedule and new commitments require finding ways to meet all the demands of daily life. For households with two working parents, it can be extremely difficult; and for single-parent households, even more so. It's easy for employers … [Read more...] about Are you violating state “time off” requirements for employees who are parents?