A Washington, D.C. administrator has set up an operations manual that covers every imaginable item of managing the firm. It holds the basics of everything so that when she is out, the firm “can be on autopilot and keep the trains running on time,” says Jill D. Hirsch, chief operating officer of Slevin & Hart. And, she says, “it’s for me as well as for someone stepping in … [Read more...] about A manual that covers the entire administration
Workplace Safety
How to prevent violence . . . and deal with it when it happens
On the topic of violence in the office, "people are in denial," says one security management consultant. "They can't believe it's going to happen." But it does happen, and it comes from a lot of sources – unhappy clients, unhappy employees, employees' unhappy spouses, and even from outsiders wandering in. In one office in North Carolina, for example, a client's husband was … [Read more...] about How to prevent violence . . . and deal with it when it happens
Being mean doesn’t make an office efficient
By Steve M. Cohen bio I recently saw some good management advice in The New York Times, of all places! The newspaper published a great article describing how there is "No Time to Be Nice at Work." I found this to be good reading for any manager. Author Christine Porath noted several significant concerns that are relevant today, including her findings that … [Read more...] about Being mean doesn’t make an office efficient
Help staff protect their families against dangers of fireworks
The Fourth of July is a time for celebration—and beautiful fireworks displays! Share these tips with your staff to help them keep their families safe while they celebrate this special weekend. As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, ophthalmologists—medical doctors who treat eye disease and conditions—are preparing for an influx of patients who are injured each year while … [Read more...] about Help staff protect their families against dangers of fireworks
Bullying, by any name, can be expensive
By Steve M. Cohen bio Whether you call it harassment, bullying, or something else, negative workplace behavior can be expensive for any organization. Although the legal field is highly professional, it's also staffed with human beings who sometimes use bad judgment, have questionable intentions, or are even just misunderstood. Unhappy employees today are … [Read more...] about Bullying, by any name, can be expensive
How to Protect Your Law Practice against Costly & Destructive Cyber Attack
Get the presentation materials here Join our presenters Sharon D. Nelson, Esq., President, Sensei Enterprises, Inc. and John W. Simek, Vice President, Sensei Enterprises, Inc. and our moderator Catherine Jones, Editor of Law Office Manager as they discuss the rise in cyber crime, what it is, and how it is affecting your law firm. Here is just a sample of what they … [Read more...] about How to Protect Your Law Practice against Costly & Destructive Cyber Attack
Model Policy: Reduced schedule and flexible work arrangements
Why you need this policy: Once upon a time, the belief was that an individual could be an attorney or a primary caregiving parent but not both. Attitudes—and laws—have changed this thinking and opened the door to all kinds of flexible work arrangements allowing attorneys to balance their professional and parental obligations. How this policy helps you: Every law office needs a … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Reduced schedule and flexible work arrangements
Model Policy: Sexual harassment
Why you need this policy: Personnel issues are among the most difficult problems faced by law office managers. And few personnel issues are any more difficult than sexual harassment. How this policy helps you: The starting point in managing sexual harassment is to establish a clearly written, specific policy that includes a/an: Policy statement indicating that sexual … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Sexual harassment
Better productivity and a happier staff happen as ergonomics steps in
Ergonomics is good economics. When the work areas are in sync with the people spending their days in them, there's no time lost to sick days and no money lost to low productivity, says Hayley Kaye, a certified professional ergonomist with HLK Consulting in New York City. Achieving that calls for attention to the desks, the telephones, and the chairs. But it also calls for … [Read more...] about Better productivity and a happier staff happen as ergonomics steps in