By Lynne Curry, Ph.D, SPHR bio The new business manager you hired—the one with the terrific resume and reference? It turns out she never worked for the employers named on the resume or knew the supervisors listed as references—despite the glowing recommendations they wrote for her. Instead, she paid for a legitimate-appearing, completely phony resume and … [Read more...] about Watch out for resume fraud
Risk management
Data breaches becoming more complex, pervasive, and damaging
Data breaches are becoming more complex and are no longer confined to just the IT department, but are now affecting every department within an organization. Each breach leaves a lingering, if not lasting imprint on an enterprise, finds Verizon's 2017 Data Breach Digest. As we found in the Verizon 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), the human element is again front … [Read more...] about Data breaches becoming more complex, pervasive, and damaging
The truth behind the “Blue Monday” myth
"Blue Monday" is an annual phenomenon that was the subject of a viral Facebook post seen by millions of people. Observed on the third Monday in January, it's supposedly the most depressing day of the year. Crisis Text Line, the free, nationwide, 24/7 text message service for people in crisis, looked to its data to debunk "Blue Monday" once and for all. The day's origins … [Read more...] about The truth behind the “Blue Monday” myth
22 questions a manager should ask before firing an employee
By Lynne Curry, Ph.D, SPHR bio The final revenge of the fired employee: The manager makes an unwitting but critical mistake that unravels the firing decision or results in a painful payout to the employee. If you'd like to fire an employee without backfire, you need to consider good faith and just cause, then ask yourself twenty-two questions. Good faith … [Read more...] about 22 questions a manager should ask before firing an employee
A surprising downside to merit-based promotions
A new study finds that the age gap between older workers and younger supervisors is linked to the frequency of emotions such as "anger, fear, and disgust" among older subordinates, and that more frequent negative emotions of this type are associated with lower company performance in areas such as financial results, growth, efficiency, and return on assets. This is in part due … [Read more...] about A surprising downside to merit-based promotions
The new overtime rules are put on hold. What does that mean for you?
By Mike O'Brien bio As most of you know by now, I'm sure, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) has finalized a new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule that, among other things, raises the minimum salary threshold required to qualify for a "white collar" overtime pay exemption to $47,476 per year, which is $913 per week. This basically doubles the minimum salary … [Read more...] about The new overtime rules are put on hold. What does that mean for you?
5 trust account errors that will get a firm in trouble
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio There have been recent reports of law firm trust accounts being involved in money laundering. Maintaining and managing a trust account is regulated by local bar rules. The main reason for this is that the funds do not belong to the firm. Trust monies are client funds deposited with a law firm intended to be used for the benefit of the client. I … [Read more...] about 5 trust account errors that will get a firm in trouble
Pop Quiz: How well do you understand the new FLSA overtime rules?
Sandra Hoyle-Smith, SPHR of B2 Management & Consulting recently gave a webinar to Law Office Manager subscribers outlining the new FLSA (Fair Labor Standard's Act) overtime rules and how these changes will affect law office staff. What's changing Effective December 1, 2016, the minimum salary level for non-exempt employees is increasing. What this means for law firms is … [Read more...] about Pop Quiz: How well do you understand the new FLSA overtime rules?
Job interviews: How to ask personal questions without committing discrimination
The job interview process is a breeding ground for discrimination complaints. One common mistake: asking job applicants inappropriate questions about their nationality, marital status, religion, disabilities and other characteristics that discrimination laws ban you from considering when making hiring decisions. Applicants on the receiving end of such questions are apt to … [Read more...] about Job interviews: How to ask personal questions without committing discrimination
Survey finds many businesses unprepared for new DOL overtime rules
Nearly 36 percent of America's workers are not currently required to input their hours worked, according to recent findings of the 2016 "Getting Paid In America" survey from the American Payroll Association (APA). The results, a three percent increase from 2015 survey findings, show many businesses may still be unprepared for the Department of Labor's "white-collar" overtime … [Read more...] about Survey finds many businesses unprepared for new DOL overtime rules