The talk of management isn't easy. Here are three especially difficult conversations to be prepared for: the "poor performance" discussion, the "no-raise-for-you" discussion, and the "we're-having-layoffs" discussion. Business consultant, corporate trainer, and psychotherapist Linnda Durre, Phd, of Winter Park, FL, outlines what to say, and what not to say, to get the message … [Read more...] about How to deliver bad news to 3 kinds of underperforming employees
Risk management
4 ways to avoid the accidental attorney-client relationship
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio What is the accidental attorney-client relationship? This is a relationship that is formed most often after the potential client has consulted with an attorney and the potential client leaves the office mistakenly believing that the attorney has "taken their case." The key to this accidental relationship is that the attorney-client relationship has … [Read more...] about 4 ways to avoid the accidental attorney-client relationship
Plan firm’s transition now even if retirement is years away
Many of us daydream of how we'll spend our retirement years; it's the dream we've chased all of our careers. However, when faced with the reality of this life-changing phase of life, retirement suddenly switches from a dream to a touchy subject—and it's a subject every law office administrator must address and properly plan for, because at some point in the life of your firm, … [Read more...] about Plan firm’s transition now even if retirement is years away
Model Employee Social Networking Policy
Why you need this model policy: This model policy will help you protect your practice from the potential threat posed by employee blogging, tweeting, Instagramming, and other social networking. How this model policy helps you: The key to protecting your practice is by implementing clear and specific policies to establish your right to discipline employees for social network … [Read more...] about Model Employee Social Networking Policy
7 steps to safely terminating an employee
Properly terminating an employee to minimize the chances of repercussions starts with gathering all the facts and considering all the factors, says HR attorney Chris Lessard, J.D. Solution Center Advisor to CEDR HR Solutions. Here are his recommendations on how to do that, in seven steps. Step 1: Separate the relevant from the irrelevant Your first step involves reviewing … [Read more...] about 7 steps to safely terminating an employee
Can your employee handbook help you safely terminate an employee?
If you ever need to terminate an employee, one of the best tools you can have is an employee handbook that sets out clear policies and is kept up-to-date with changes in employment laws, says Chris Lessard, a California attorney who specializes in HR issues. Lessard, who is J.D. Solution Center Advisor to CEDR HR Solutions, says employee handbooks can protect legal practice … [Read more...] about Can your employee handbook help you safely terminate an employee?
Just how truthful is that applicant’s resume? Here’s how to find out
There's always tough competition for a good job. And sometimes, to beat out the competition, people do more than brush up their resumes. Some fabricate the facts to get in a better position for winning a job. But there's a way to sort out the facts from the fiction, says Michelle Taylor, PhD, of Taylor Consulting in Huntington Beach, CA, a company that provides psychological … [Read more...] about Just how truthful is that applicant’s resume? Here’s how to find out
NotPetya: How you can prevent the next attack on your law firm
By Doug Striker bio Want to know the ugly (like, SUPER ugly) truth about how badly a dirty piece of malware could cripple your law firm? Check out the recently released spreadsheet shared by Michael Sampson. Michael calculated the impact of NotPetya on DLA Piper, including direct costs of the IT staff, and the numbers are startling. Even scarier, the numbers don't include the … [Read more...] about NotPetya: How you can prevent the next attack on your law firm
What #MeToo means for corporate America and why employers must continue to address sexual harassment in the workplace
The #MeToo movement brought awareness and conversation to one of the most urgent issues facing the workplace today, but not enough data has been available to point to the causes or solutions until now. A new study, "What #MeToo Means for Corporate America," conducted by the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI), is the first of its kind to measure the scope of the problem within … [Read more...] about What #MeToo means for corporate America and why employers must continue to address sexual harassment in the workplace
How to maintain a well-rested staff and reduce the risk of costly mistakes
It's time for a wake-up call: Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of U.S. employees say they work while tired, with nearly one-third (31 percent) saying they do so very often, according to a survey by staffing firm Accountemps. The costs of working tired—both for professionals and the businesses they work for—are high: Respondents cite lack of focus or being easily distracted … [Read more...] about How to maintain a well-rested staff and reduce the risk of costly mistakes