A law office administrator plays a vital role in maintaining the ethical standards and integrity of the firm. Your responsibilities encompass a range of tasks that have a direct impact on the firm's reputation, client relationships, and overall success. Here are key ethical considerations that should guide your actions and decisions as a law office … [Read more...] about Administrator a key player in firm’s ethics and integrity
discrimination
Navigating Legal Risks in Return-to-Office Mandates
By Lynne Curry As employers push forward with their return-to-office (RTO) policies, many unknowingly step into legal minefield. The shift back to in-person work presents a host of challenges—especially for employers balancing productivity with legal obligations. Whether it’s handling accommodation requests, avoiding discrimination claims, or ensuring compliance with … [Read more...] about Navigating Legal Risks in Return-to-Office Mandates
Sample Policy: Halloween Costumes
Creating a policy for dressing up for Halloween in a law office is important to ensure that employees maintain professionalism while still having the opportunity to enjoy the holiday. Here's a suggested policy: [Law Office Name] Halloween Dress-Up Policy Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to allow employees to participate in Halloween festivities while maintaining a … [Read more...] about Sample Policy: Halloween Costumes
Model Policy: Religious Accommodations
Mere tolerance of religious differences in the workplace isn’t enough. Federal and state discrimination laws also require employers to take affirmative steps to accommodate the religious beliefs of employees and job applicants to the point of undue hardship. The starting point for compliance is implementing an accommodations policy. … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Religious Accommodations
Flex-retirement: A win-win strategy for employee retention
Employee retention is not only a cost-effective strategy, but it also helps maintain institutional knowledge and ensures a smoother transition when team members retire. One innovative approach that can facilitate this transition and keep experienced staff on board is "flex-retirement." What Is Flex-Retirement? Flex-retirement, also known as flexible retirement, is a workplace … [Read more...] about Flex-retirement: A win-win strategy for employee retention
The Israel/Hamas conflict rocks our workplace
By Lynne Curry Question: I supervise a tight-knit team of professionals that work hard and play hard. To describe them as intense would be an understatement. They all care about current events and their heated discussions add spice to the workday. Even more important, their commitment to improving the world is core to why they’re willing to work for low salaries in our small … [Read more...] about The Israel/Hamas conflict rocks our workplace
Religious discrimination and pitfalls for diversity efforts
By Mike O’Brien Religious discrimination An Asian-American engineer who worked for a municipal utility in Stockton, Calif., filed a lawsuit claiming that city officials belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the “Church”) sought to recruit, hire, and promote members of their own faith and that he was denied a promotion because he was a member of the … [Read more...] about Religious discrimination and pitfalls for diversity efforts
Hiring and firing risk factor: careless words
Innocent remarks spawn claims Today's administrators need to be aware of the casual – albeit well meant – words that are bringing on claims of discrimination. Legal risks of both hiring and firing include careless words, says employment law attorney Donald W. Benson, a partner with Hall Booth Smith in Atlanta. The friendly hiring remark The dangers start with the … [Read more...] about Hiring and firing risk factor: careless words
You can be personally liable for what happens in your workplace
By Lynne Curry bio It comes as a surprise to most managers when a plaintiff names them personally as a co-defendant in a lawsuit against the manager's company. The ugly truth? Personal tort actions against individual managers and employees often accompany discrimination and harassment claims. Disgruntled employees may target a manager not for what he did, but for … [Read more...] about You can be personally liable for what happens in your workplace
Study finds alarming ambivalence about gender discrimination in the workplace, despite evidence that compensation inequality and harassment exist
Randstad US has released results of a survey examining American workers' feelings and experiences related to gender equality in the workplace. The data reveals a sharp disconnect: Employees acknowledge that forms of discrimination and harassment exist in the workplace, but they aren't sure what they're supposed to do about it. For example, while 51 percent of both men and women … [Read more...] about Study finds alarming ambivalence about gender discrimination in the workplace, despite evidence that compensation inequality and harassment exist