By Mike O'Brien bio As most of you know by now, I'm sure, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) has finalized a new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule that, among other things, raises the minimum salary threshold required to qualify for a "white collar" overtime pay exemption to $47,476 per year, which is $913 per week. This basically doubles the minimum salary … [Read more...] about The new overtime rules are put on hold. What does that mean for you?
Risk management
5 trust account errors that will get a firm in trouble
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio There have been recent reports of law firm trust accounts being involved in money laundering. Maintaining and managing a trust account is regulated by local bar rules. The main reason for this is that the funds do not belong to the firm. Trust monies are client funds deposited with a law firm intended to be used for the benefit of the client. I … [Read more...] about 5 trust account errors that will get a firm in trouble
Pop Quiz: How well do you understand the new FLSA overtime rules?
Sandra Hoyle-Smith, SPHR of B2 Management & Consulting recently gave a webinar to Law Office Manager subscribers outlining the new FLSA (Fair Labor Standard's Act) overtime rules and how these changes will affect law office staff. What's changing Effective December 1, 2016, the minimum salary level for non-exempt employees is increasing. What this means for law firms is … [Read more...] about Pop Quiz: How well do you understand the new FLSA overtime rules?
Job interviews: How to ask personal questions without committing discrimination
The job interview process is a breeding ground for discrimination complaints. One common mistake: asking job applicants inappropriate questions about their nationality, marital status, religion, disabilities and other characteristics that discrimination laws ban you from considering when making hiring decisions. Applicants on the receiving end of such questions are apt to … [Read more...] about Job interviews: How to ask personal questions without committing discrimination
Gone phishin’: CyLab researchers find our ability to spot phishing emails is far from perfect
Each year, tens of millions of phishing emails make it to your inbox, uncaught by your email client's spam filter. Of those, millions more slide past our own judgment and are clicked and opened. A recent study out of Carnegie Mellon's CyLab Security and Privacy Institute has revealed just how likely we are to take the bait. "Despite the fact that people were generally … [Read more...] about Gone phishin’: CyLab researchers find our ability to spot phishing emails is far from perfect
How to make a mistake, survive the fallout, and keep your job
A mistake happens. It's serious. And it's your fault. Is it survivable? The best of managers make some of the worst mistakes, says Donna Flagg of the Krysalis Group, a New York management, marketing, sales, and training consulting firm. Flagg is also author of "Surviving Dreaded Conversations," a book on how to talk through unpleasant situations at work. Your job depends on … [Read more...] about How to make a mistake, survive the fallout, and keep your job
Why the new Massachusetts law matters, regardless of where your firm is located
Massachusetts recently signed into law An Act to Establish Pay Equity, S.2119, which takes effect on July 1, 2018. The new law prevents wage discrimination based on gender. The law includes several noteworthy changes related to the employment process, but perhaps the most significant is that it prohibits employers from requiring applicants to provide their salary history … [Read more...] about Why the new Massachusetts law matters, regardless of where your firm is located
Avoid these tricky ADA pitfalls when hiring staff
Every manager is aware of the wider doorways, lever handles, curb cuts and so on required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). And every manager is aware of providing accommodations for employees. But not every manager is aware of the less obvious ADA requirements that apply to electronic job applications, says Beth Loy, PhD, principal consultant with the Job … [Read more...] about Avoid these tricky ADA pitfalls when hiring staff
What to do when you suspect substance abuse in the firm
By Lynne Curry, Ph.D, SPHR bio He's one of your best litigators, but is he worth the risks he takes that could backfire on the practice—or are there ways to mitigate those risks? Rumors abound fueled by his erratic behavior and the behavior changes that his regular trips to the bathroom create. You suspect substance abuse, but if you tackle these problems, will you … [Read more...] about What to do when you suspect substance abuse in the firm
Who’s the most prepared for the future? Survey results may surprise you
When it comes to preparing for the future, Millennial small-business owners are seemingly the most concerned generation in recent history. They are more likely than Gen X or Baby Boomers to have plans for natural disasters, retirement benefits, cyberattacks, and even business succession. Those Millennial generation facts stem from Nationwide's second annual Small Business … [Read more...] about Who’s the most prepared for the future? Survey results may surprise you