May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a good time to devote some thought to how you can support mental health in your office. Here are some ideas for advancing mental health in the workplace: Encourage open communication: Encourage your employees to speak openly about their mental health and provide a safe space for them to do so. Encourage managers to be approachable … [Read more...] about 7 ways to support mental health in your office
Employee benefits
The nomadic remote employee: Employee dream, employer nightmare
By Lynne Curry Question: Several of our employees regularly travel out of state. Before the pandemic, they took vacations for several days or weeks. They and we understood they were on vacation. The situation was clear cut. Our current team includes three employees who want to travel and stay for weeks or even months, in places like Hawaii and Thailand or with relatives. … [Read more...] about The nomadic remote employee: Employee dream, employer nightmare
Must love dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles…
By Lynne Curry Question: When we surveyed our employees last month, we asked them what we could do to make them happier about returning to our company’s worksite. Many of their answers surprised us. The biggest surprise—many employees want to bring their pets to work with them. We’ve discussed this among the management team and have decided to allow pets but want to … [Read more...] about Must love dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles…
What does FMLA require of a law office employer?
One of the employment laws that affect how you manage your staff is the The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This is a federal law that requires certain employers to provide their employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain qualifying reasons. These reasons include the birth or adoption of a child, the care of a family member with a … [Read more...] about What does FMLA require of a law office employer?
Are you considering a pet-friendly office?
The working world is accustomed to seeing everyone's pets on video meetings. And some physical offices also allow pets on the premises. Pets in the office workplace can be a controversial topic, as they may be seen as either a positive or negative influence on productivity and the work environment. Here are a few points to consider when it comes to pets in the … [Read more...] about Are you considering a pet-friendly office?
Characteristics of a modern compensation plan for lawyers
By Brenda A. Barnes and Camille Stell A successful compensation plan should reflect shared goals and values. A successful plan also requires trust among the members of the firm. A winning compensation plan aligns the values of the law firm with relevant, up-to-date market data. Here are additional components of a modern compensation plan. Evergreen Compensation plans must be … [Read more...] about Characteristics of a modern compensation plan for lawyers
Praise is nice but a year-end bonus is better
A year-end bonus can be a powerful tool for reminding your staff their hard work and commitment and the company’s overall growth and success are closely intertwined. And according to a survey of employers, 50% of companies plan to award year-end bonuses in 2022. While this is down from 63% last year, it’s a sign that staff retention remains top of mind for many … [Read more...] about Praise is nice but a year-end bonus is better
Inflation’s impact on employees and the workplace
By Lynne Curry What keeps your employees and coworkers up at night, and what does it mean to you as their employer or colleague? According to the U.S. 2022 Inside Employees’ Minds Report conducted by the HR consulting firm Mercer, which surveyed 4049 employees between Aug. 26 and Sept. 9, 2022, it’s financial … [Read more...] about Inflation’s impact on employees and the workplace
Staff continuing education: Must you or should you pay for it?
By Paul Edwards QUESTION: I’m looking to hire a new employee and they asked me about my policy on paying for employee CE. I normally don’t pay for employee CE but it sounds important to this potential new employee. What is the best way to handle this? ANSWER: Many individuals have annual continuing education (CE) requirements they need to meet in order to maintain … [Read more...] about Staff continuing education: Must you or should you pay for it?
5 ways to help your staff cope with inflation
By Paul Edwards CEO, CEDR Solutions Inflation is on everyone’s minds right now, and understandably so. Most Americans are aware that the purchasing power of a dollar is always decreasing to some degree, but rarely does the rise in the cost of living have such a powerful impact on our daily lives or feature so prominently in the public discourse. As you may already know, … [Read more...] about 5 ways to help your staff cope with inflation