By Mike O’Brien bio Jan. 1, 2020 was the deadline to comply with new FLSA overtime rule. At the end of September the Department of Labor issued its long-awaited final rule updating the salary level test for white-collar overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Under the new rule, the minimum salary level for exemption is raised from $455 a week to $684 a week, … [Read more...] about New overtime rule now in effect
Managing staff
She almost lost her job to jealous sabotage
By Lynne Curry bio Through no fault of her own, “Loni” almost lost her job. When she called me requesting coaching, she told me told me she’d been with her company for 11 months. For the first nine, she’d been on the fast-track to a senior management position. Two months ago, everything changed. Last Friday morning, her CEO had told her to “pull it together or you’re out.” She … [Read more...] about She almost lost her job to jealous sabotage
How to delegate better
Boost staff performance by communicating more clearly Not pleased with what staff are doing? It may not be their fault. Look at the directions they are getting—from the manager. Whenever a staffer who is capable of doing a job doesn't get that job right, chances are it's because the manager didn't explain what needed to be done. A manager should assign projects via a written … [Read more...] about How to delegate better
The importance of recognizing your employees’ hard work
Happy Administrative Professionals Week! What have you got planned to acknowledge your hard-working support staff? If you've decided to do nothing this year, you may want to rethink that. According to a survey conducted by staffing firm OfficeTeam, two-thirds (66 percent) of workers surveyed said they'd likely leave their job if they didn't feel appreciated. In contrast, just … [Read more...] about The importance of recognizing your employees’ hard work
4 bad financial habits that may increase your policy premiums and your malpractice risk
Ineffective billing and collections practices affect more than the bottom line. They ultimately may determine what the firm has to pay for malpractice coverage. To an underwriter, poor financial habits are just like poor legal habits—they spell high risk for malpractice claims, says Dan Knise, president and CEO of Ames & Gough, a McClean, VA, specialty insurance broker. If … [Read more...] about 4 bad financial habits that may increase your policy premiums and your malpractice risk
3-point retention strategy
By Julie Ellison bio Great law offices are built with great people. In today's competitive employment market, it's hard enough to recruit those great people, but the real challenge is getting them to stay. Traditional retention strategies haven't worked so it's time to take a fresh look at how to keep the best people you have. Benefits vs. retention We often confuse … [Read more...] about 3-point retention strategy
How to let clients know you take their work seriously, without saying a word
As the saying goes, "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." What's the first impression your clients get when they walk into your office? Does it instill confidence that they made the right choice in hiring your firm? Clients lose faith in an office when they see clutter and dusty plastic plants and dirt in the corners. A likely reaction is, "This office … [Read more...] about How to let clients know you take their work seriously, without saying a word
How in the world can anybody stop gossip?
Question: How can a manager effectively put the squelch on office gossip? Answer: Gossip is an issue for almost all managers, and for some it's a plague. It's childish, it's negative, it's damaging to productivity, and it won't stop until the manager does something about it. Over the years, LOM has addressed the problem many times, and what all management experts say is that … [Read more...] about How in the world can anybody stop gossip?
8 pitfalls of letting law firm employees work from home
Contrary to what you might have heard in HR circles, refusing to let employees work from home will not make your law firm a dinosaur that nobody will ever want to work for. In fact, it will put you in the same position as the nearly 65 percent of employers that don't allow telecommuting. But telecommuting does offer significant business advantages. And to the extent you're … [Read more...] about 8 pitfalls of letting law firm employees work from home
Want to jump ahead of the competition? Get everybody aiming for the same thing
No matter what the business, the winning players are always organizations with a motivated and productive workforce. And what maintains motivation and productivity is goals—plus mentoring, coaching, and training to help everybody achieve them. Workable goals admittedly take thought, planning, and a lot of follow-up, says business development and management consultant John … [Read more...] about Want to jump ahead of the competition? Get everybody aiming for the same thing