By Steve M. Cohen bio Sometimes it's difficult to communicate to employers just how much federal and state law impact businesses and organizations when an employee makes a complaint. By this, I mean virtually any allegation, whether it's an accusation of sexual harassment, bullying or an alleged workplace safety hazard. It doesn't matter if you doubt the complaint or have … [Read more...] about One employee complaint can change your reality
Insight
Creating and maintaining a high-performance office
Among the goals of any manager is to create and maintain an HPO—a high-performance organization. That means you have created a lean, mean running machine that operates at top efficiency, and your employees are engaged. Some organizations don't believe this really applies to them. But look at it this way: Research by the Gallagher Organization has suggested that only 25 … [Read more...] about Creating and maintaining a high-performance office
Are you building a community or an organization?
By Dr. Steve M. Cohen Office managers have a major role in creating the culture of their organization. One of the major considerations of that culture revolves around the question: Are you building a community or an organization? Defining our terms A community, by definition, is inclusive. It makes room for individuals and their diverse proclivities, biases, illnesses, … [Read more...] about Are you building a community or an organization?
Whistleblowers get more protection than you think
By Steve M. Cohen bio Employees who successfully don the cloak of a whistleblower have a surprising amount of protection. Several categories of whistleblower protection exist, depending on the industry and alleged topic of the whistleblower's alarm. But in many, even most cases, whistleblower laws make allegations of organizational wrongdoing a protected … [Read more...] about Whistleblowers get more protection than you think
The dangers of the disengaged staffer
By Steve M. Cohen bio Are some of your employees actually working against you? When it comes to the bigger picture of your job, your office or your business, the important question is simple: are you engaged? Is your staff engaged? Whether you are an owner, manager or beginning worker, the answers matters. A national management firm, the Gallagher Organization, has published … [Read more...] about The dangers of the disengaged staffer
6 tips for successfully managing millennials
By Cheryl Toth, MBA bio The Millennial generation - Americans aged 18 – 37,1 is the largest generation in U.S. history. Yup, bigger than the Baby Boomers, and 86 million strong. Next year, they'll comprise 36% of the U.S. workforce, and by 2020, nearly half.2 I love working with this generation. I find them to be a diverse group of curious, collaborative, and fearless folks. … [Read more...] about 6 tips for successfully managing millennials
Your input needed: Are you a master of cross-selling?
By David H. Freeman bio Cross-selling is one of the best ways to generate new revenue in a firm; however, most firms face significant challenges in building an effective, firm-wide approach. To help firms navigate through this process, I am conducting research in support of my upcoming book on mastering the art of cross-selling, and I would welcome your … [Read more...] about Your input needed: Are you a master of cross-selling?
Employee conflict: When fighters and flighters face-off
By Steve Cohen bio It's solid management to address the internal climate of your business. I have no doubt you are aware of this and have put time and effort into team building, empowering and creating a positive climate for your staff. It's important to you, and it's important to your staff. So, why are people fighting on occasion or even more frequently? … [Read more...] about Employee conflict: When fighters and flighters face-off
Leaky password managers on Android
By John Simek bio Ars technica recently posted a very scary bit of information. In early 2013, security researchers discovered that some password managers used on Android devices can actually be accessed by other installed apps, even those with extremely low-level privileges. Almost two years later, apparently there is still a problem. The issue seems to revolve around the … [Read more...] about Leaky password managers on Android
What tech toys are on your wish list this year?
By Catherine Jones bio In a recent edition of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson, president of the digital forensics, information technology, and information security firm Sensei Enterprises, and Jim Calloway, director of the Oklahoma Bar Association's Management Assistance Program, reviewed approximately two dozen of their favorite tech toys for the holidays. Sharon and … [Read more...] about What tech toys are on your wish list this year?