Managing the office – Law Office Manager

MANAGING THE OFFICE

Renting out extra space? Set up protective walls to avoid risk

November 24, 2020 by Barb Manning Grimm

With more law firm employees working from home during the pandemic, a firm may find itself living in too much space—and paying too much rent. One solution is to bring in a tenant. Usually the renter is a solo practitioner or a small firm, and the arrangement is good for everybody, because the firm collects the rent and the renter gets the amenities as well as the appearance of an association with the larger group. From a risk perspective, however, it’s a cause for concern. The firm has to look past the financial benefits to the danger spots. It has to think like a landlord and get signed documents and insurance policies. And more, it has to set up protections against the disasters specific to a law firm/law firm lease… . . . read more

Filed Under: articles, featured, Managing the office, Risk management, social media Tagged With: Managing the office, Risk management, Working with attorneys, Working with lawyers

TOOL

Model mandatory face mask policy

August 11, 2020 by Jared Edis

More than 20 states have enacted laws requiring the use of face masks or coverings in indoor public places. Here’s a Model Policy incorporating current legal requirements and public health guidance that you can adapt for your own lab.

Filed Under: policy bank, tools, Workplace safety Tagged With: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Managing staff, Managing the office, Workplace Safety

EMPLOYERS FOOT THE BILL

Feds say insurers not required to pay for employer return to work COVID-19 testing

July 3, 2020 by Barb Manning Grimm

Since the public health emergency began, the US government has taken the position that insurers shouldn’t be allowed to make consumers pay for COVID-19 lab tests. But now comes news that insurers will not be put in that same position with regard to return to work screening conducted on employees by their employers. FFCRA rules for COVID-19 test payment The key piece of federal relief legislation, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), required insurers to cover COVID-19 tests without imposing any copayments, deductibles, coinsurance or other patient cost-sharing. But the rule (Section 6001 of FFCRA) rule applied only to tests deemed “medically appropriate” by a healthcare provider. The key question: Would insurers also have to foot the bill for screening tests not used for diagnosis and treatment? Apparently, the answer… . . . read more

Filed Under: articles, Managing the office, Risk management, Workplace safety Tagged With: Compliance, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Federal, Managing the office, Workplace Safety

Tool: Model COVID-19 Medical Screening Policy

May 4, 2020 by Jared Edis

Regulators have made it clear that given the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers may implement pre-screening measures to ensure that people who have or may have the virus don’t get into work and spread it to others. But limits still apply and you can get into a lot of trouble if you don’t follow them. Here’s a Model Policy your firm can adapt that provides for the necessary privacy, health and safety, non-discrimination and other protections.

Filed Under: other tools, tools, Workplace safety Tagged With: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Managing staff, Managing the office, Workplace Safety

CORONAVIRUS

What employees and managers can do to protect each other

April 29, 2020 by Barb Manning Grimm

By Lynne Curry bio I’m scared. I don’t feel like my boss or coworkers are taking COVID-19 seriously. The medical professionals say we should be wiping down high-touch places. In our office, I’m the one who does it. So does that make me on the front line? Does my doing all this cleaning let everyone else feel safer so they don’t think they need to do anything? It would be fair if we rotated the cleaning but I can’t count on anyone else doing a good job so I “suck it up, Buttercup.” My mom works for a large company. When her coworker picked up his son from the airport, the coworker and his family remained at home for fourteen days due to hosting someone who recently traveled, despite the… . . . read more

Filed Under: blog, Managing staff, Managing the office Tagged With: Blog, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Managing staff, Managing the office

MANAGING STAFF

Yes! You need an employee handbook

January 13, 2020 by Barb Manning Grimm

By Julie Ellison bio For many employers, the idea of creating an Employee Handbook is overwhelming. But the importance of having one should outweigh that hesitancy given the peace of mind it can provide you while you are busy running your law firm or business. An Employee Handbook is your road map for what your employees can expect from you and what you expect from your employees. It should be simple, straightforward and relevant. Not having one in place can create huge headaches that are completely avoidable. Here are five good reasons to have an employee handbook: 1. Handbooks Set Employee Expectations Handbooks allow you to clearly set forth everything from job responsibilities to disciplinary procedures, thus keeping employee expectations consistent with the employer. Experience teaches us that employees are… . . . read more

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: Blog, Managing staff, Managing the office, Policies

MANAGING THE OFFICE

How the “broken windows” theory applies to your law business

November 19, 2019 by Jared Edis

The “broken windows” theory is that a building with broken windows is evidence of abandonment, neglect of the property and a lack of respect for the law. In its simplest form, the “broken windows” is the beginning of the decline

Filed Under: blog, Managing the office Tagged With: Billing & collections, Blog, Managing the office

WORKING WITH ATTORNEYS

How to set a plan for associate development that actually works

October 4, 2019 by Barb Manning Grimm

One area no firm can afford to ignore is associate business development.
The firm’s future depends on how well the younger attorneys are developed and…

MANAGING STAFF

How to delegate better

October 4, 2019 by Barb Manning Grimm

Boost staff performance by communicating more clearly
Not pleased with what staff are doing? It may not be their fault. Look at the directions they are…

. . . read more

Filed Under: Managing staff, Managing the office Tagged With: General, Managing staff, Managing the office

MANAGING THE OFFICE

The importance of recognizing your employees’ hard work

October 4, 2019 by Barb Manning Grimm

Happy Administrative Professionals Week! What have you got planned to acknowledge your hard-working support staff? If you’ve decided to do nothing this year, you may want to…

Model mandatory face mask policy

Feds say insurers not required to pay for employer return to work COVID-19 testing

Tool: Model COVID-19 Medical Screening Policy

What employees and managers can do to protect each other

Yes! You need an employee handbook

How the “broken windows” theory applies to your law business

How to set a plan for associate development that actually works

How to delegate better

The importance of recognizing your employees’ hard work

live events

training on demand

connect with us

useful links

recent articles

Using waivers to avoid getting sued for COVID-19 infections

Office’s duty to protect returning employees from COVID-19 discrimination and harassment

What, if anything, does OSHA require you to do to protect telecommuters?

Can racial discrimination be proven with circumstantial evidence alone?

tools you can use

Model Substance Abuse and Fitness for Duty Policy

Model waiver of COVID-19 infection liability sign to post at your law office

Model visitors’ waiver of COVID-19 infection liability form

Telecommuter home office hazard assessment & inspection checklist

Model mandatory face mask policy