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EMPLOYEE RETENTION

Create work schedules that keep your hourly staff happy

While scheduling may appear as a routine task, its importance in retaining hourly employees cannot be overlooked. A well-designed and thoughtful scheduling system can lead to increased job satisfaction, higher productivity, and improved staff retention rates. In this article, we will delve into why scheduling is vital and explore strategies for effective scheduling, for staffers that might include legal secretaries, paralegals, legal assistants, personal assistants, records clerks, receptionists, tech support, cleaners, drivers and others, depending on the size and structure of your law office. Stability and predictability Consistency and predictability in scheduling are vital for retaining hourly employees in a law office. By establishing stable work schedules, you demonstrate respect for your employees’ time and commitment to their work-life balance. Hourly employees often face challenges in balancing personal and professional… . . . read more

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Model Tool: Catastrophic Leave Program

Why you need this form:

At first glance, a leave-sharing program appears to be a win-win-win solution for employer, donating employee, and receiving employee.

But despite all of the positives, employers need to be careful when implementing a program like this to avoid some potential administrative, managerial, and tax problems.

. . . download here

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Model Policy: Recognition and social functions

Why you need this policy:

From time to time your law firm may wish to recognize staff members’ milestones, achievements, and/or special occasions.


. . . download here

CORPORATE CULTURE

Must love dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles…

By Lynne Curry Question: When we surveyed our employees last month, we asked them what we could do to make them happier about returning to our company’s worksite. Many of their answers surprised us. The biggest surprise—many employees want to bring their pets to work with them. We’ve discussed this among the management team and have decided to allow pets but want to understand the problems we might get into before moving forward. What precautions do we need to take? Answer: Letting employees bring their pets to work has enormous benefits. It boosts morale; provides opportunities for employees to connect with each other over their pets and helps employers recruit for and retain employees. Start by sending a quick one-question follow-up email asking employees to let you know if they… . . . read more

MANAGING THE OFFICE

Are you considering a pet-friendly office?

The working world is accustomed to seeing everyone’s pets on video meetings. And some physical offices also allow pets on the premises. Pets in the office workplace can be a controversial topic, as they may be seen as either a positive or negative influence on productivity and the work environment. Here are a few points to consider when it comes to pets in the office: Benefits of pets in the office: Increased morale: Pets in the office can help to improve morale and create a more positive and enjoyable work environment. Research has shown that interacting with pets can help to reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Improved productivity: Some studies have suggested that pets in the office can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction. For example, having a… . . . read more

BLOG

Employee morale and your firm’s productivity: 6 easy ways to boost both

By Elizabeth M. Miller  bio
Employees’ attitudes have changed over the years. Good, loyal employees want more than a paycheck and…


. . . read more

WORKPLACE WELLNESS

Five essentials to support employee mental health and well-being

As reports of quiet quitting and the Great Resignation have shown, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the nature of work for many and the relationship that some workers have with their jobs. In response, the United States Surgeon General has released the Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace, outlining the foundational role that workplaces should play in promoting the health and well-being of workers and communities. With more than 160 million people participating in the United States workforce and with the average full-time worker in the United States spending about half of their waking life at work, workplaces play a significant role in shaping mental and physical well-being. Employers have a unique opportunity not only to invest in the mental health and well-being of their workforce, but… . . . read more

HIRING & FIRING

Employees who ask to be fired: A new trend to obtain a strategic advantage

By Lynne Curry At first, you think you’re imagining things. Your employee, “Kevin,” seems to want you to fire him. It started with Kevin not showing up for two critical team meetings in a row. When you sent him a text asking, “what happened” after the first, he responded, “It wasn’t on my radar.” You sent him an individual meeting request to ask him about this, but he was a “no show.” You planned to ask him to stay after the second team meeting, but he didn’t show up. In the meantime, your hear a complaint from another staffer: “He treats me with total disrespect. Maybe it’s that I’m a woman, or Hispanic, but I don’t plan to take it anymore.” This cascade of problems tells you need to act… . . . read more

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Staff continuing education: Must you or should you pay for it?

By Paul Edwards QUESTION: I’m looking to hire a new employee and they asked me about my policy on paying for employee CE. I normally don’t pay for employee CE but it sounds important to this potential new employee. What is the best way to handle this? ANSWER: Many individuals have annual continuing education (CE) requirements they need to meet in order to maintain certain credentials. Meeting that requirement is an obligation on the individual, not on the practice. Of course, you should keep track of whether your employees have the credentials; otherwise it does become a problem for the practice. While you may not be required to help pay for the cost of license renewals or CEs taken specifically for an employee’s license, offering that type of a benefit… . . . read more

MANAGING THE OFFICE

4 day workweek: Is it in your future?

By Lynne Curry If you’re an employee, you’re immediately interested. If you’re an employer, you’re doubtful—yet you keep hearing about this new strategy that might make a significant difference in your company’s ability to survive and thrive. It’s the four-day workweek, though not the compressed 4/10’s workweek that oil patch and similar companies used. Employers adopting this four-day workweek ask each employee to work 8.5 hours four days a week, providing them full salaries for 34 rather than 40 hours weekly. Forty U.S. and Canadian employers are trying out this strategy in a pilot program run by 4 Day Week Global.1 Another 32 U.S. employers have adopted it.2 The concept asks employees to maintain 100% productivity for 100% of their pay while working only 80% of the time. It requires employees… . . . read more


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