A law office manager has a wide range of responsibilities, which can make it difficult to keep every potential staff-related issue top of mind. Nevertheless, there are five human resources issues about which you should remain vigilant. 1 Discrimination Here are various types of discrimination, as identified and defined by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission … [Read more...] about 5 HR issues you need to review and keep on your radar
Managing the office
Have this one simple conversation to end staff’s personal Internet use
The manager of a Mississippi professional office relies on a basic management practice when she presents any new policy. “I make it a win-win situation,” says Beth C. Pharr. “I tell staff ‘this why it’s necessary, and this is how it benefits you.’” Such was the case when she set a policy to solve a problem common to almost every … [Read more...] about Have this one simple conversation to end staff’s personal Internet use
Model Tool: Candidate rejection letter, job interview
Why you need this model tool: After you interview candidates for an open position and choose the one you wish to hire, you have an obligation to get back to the people who spent time interviewing but did not get the job. How this model tool helps you: It can be difficult to know what to say to a candidate who was not hired. How to use this model tool: This model tool is a … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Candidate rejection letter, job interview
Model Tool: Checklist of steps to take when conducting an investigation
Why you need this checklist: When an employee makes a complaint, whether it's an accusation of sexual harassment, bullying or an alleged workplace safety hazard, you have an obligation to conduct a thorough and timely investigation. In many circumstances, the filing of a complaint sets in motion several legal and regulatory requirements for a business. How this checklist helps … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Checklist of steps to take when conducting an investigation
Mental illness in the workplace and protections for employees
By R. Scott Oswald bio When we think of "mental health" problems, many of us envision obvious symptoms. But mental health presents challenges precisely because it can be almost impossible to observe. This can become a problem in the workplace when an employee experiences intense anxiety or panic due to the stress of the position, and management simply expects these … [Read more...] about Mental illness in the workplace and protections for employees
Are you ruining your employees’ family dinners?
It's no secret that technology plays a major role in today's modern world. But what happens when technology starts blurring the line between work and non-work hours? The results of a recent survey commissioned by Workfront and conducted online by Harris Poll with more than 600 full-time employees working a typical 9-5 schedule, found that 56% of workers feel that technology … [Read more...] about Are you ruining your employees’ family dinners?
Are you changing your security strategy?
The growing proliferation and sophistication of hackers, combined with greater reliance on interconnected applications, devices and systems, has created a security environment that's challenging for even the best prepared organizations, according to new research recently released by CompTIA, the IT industry association. "It's not that businesses need to be convinced that … [Read more...] about Are you changing your security strategy?
Active listening puts fast stop to staffer’s anger
Hidden in every manager's job description is the dreaded duty of handling complaints from staffers—sometimes angry staffers. Surprisingly, the job can be simple. It's just a matter of knowing what to say and how to say it. Stopping anger in its tracks Managers' most common responses to conflict are the two worst responses. One is the response of being confrontational, … [Read more...] about Active listening puts fast stop to staffer’s anger
The psychology of getting clients to pay
When the collections get tough, the tough start adding a bit of psychology to the billing. It can make the difference between getting paid now or getting paid later or maybe not getting paid at all, says Merra Lee Moffitt of Capture Profits, a revenue and profit building consulting company in Reading, PA. A waning economy is no time to sit at status quo with the billing, … [Read more...] about The psychology of getting clients to pay
FLSA continues to be a potential pitfall for many organizations
By Steve M. Cohen bio In the rush of managing an office, it's easy to overlook significant pitfalls that can cause major problems. One of these pitfalls is the Fair Labor Standards Act, an area that managers and partners often overlook until they face a problem. I strongly suggest using caution to avoid problems and penalties. Until a few years ago, the law's … [Read more...] about FLSA continues to be a potential pitfall for many organizations