By Sandra Hoyle-Smith, SPHR bio
President Obama and Secretary Perez recently announced the publication of the Department of Labor’s final rule updating the overtime regulations, which will…
INSIGHT
How the FLSA’s updated rules regarding overtime affects your firm
May 27, 2016 by
OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS
How to get poor performers to commit to improved behavior—without confrontation
April 8, 2016 by
Perhaps the most difficult part of being a manager is talking to an employee about poor performance.
No manager enjoys the confrontation. But poor performance will continue and likely worsen if left unaddressed.
Here’s an outline of how to take on that…
READER TIPS
Use this one simple form and quickly build a positive workforce
January 15, 2016 by
This idea comes not from a law firm but from a manager in a medical practice. It’s a way not only to end negative attitudes among staff but also to keep a positive attitude going indefinitely.
It was developed by Sharon Hunter who manages Granbury Internal Medical Associates in Granbury, TX, and it’s what she terms an…
CLIENT RELATIONS
How to calm down the angry client and hold on to the business
October 23, 2015 by
The client is angry. The client is upset about the bill. The client says the firm did work that wasn’t approved. The client may be ready to walk.
There’s a way to salvage that relationship, says law management consultant William Cobb of Cobb Consulting in Houston.
It calls for tact, saying the right things, and giving the issue full and close personal attention.
Take a train, take a plane
The client calls with a problem.
“Don’t try to solve it over the phone,” Cobb says.
Set up a meeting to talk about it, and do so even if it means…
COMPLIANCE
Electronic cigarettes: why your firm needs a “vaping” policy now
November 21, 2014 by
Your employment policies address cigarettes, and so you think you have the smoking issue covered. Well, think again. Electronic cigarettes have created new challenges for employers.
Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, first became available in the United States in 2006 and have grown in popularity. Designed to look like cigarettes, they are battery-powered devices, usually made of plastic or metal, that convert liquid nicotine into a mist, or vapor that the user inhales. The liquid nicotine is often flavored and the vapor produced resembles smoke.
How popular are e-cigarettes? Popular enough to spawn the terms “vaper,” for a smoker, and “vaping,” for the act of…
TRAINING TIPS
50 quick training tips
September 15, 2014 by
By Michelle Spencer, Senior Trainer, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP bio
@txmischief
50 Top Tweets from an IT Trainer
As a trainer for a large international law firm, I’m always looking to the future, and part of that includes staying abreast of what is going on within ILTA (International Legal Technology Association). I’ve been fortunate to attend the annual conference for the past several years as part of ILTA’s volunteer leadership. One of the ways I like to…
