Law Office Manager

Managing staff

How to write a readable memo

An office memo has only one purpose, and that is to send a message as quickly and as clearly as possible. Here’s how to do just that. • Use wide margins and spaces between the paragraphs. That makes the page easier to look at, and if it’s easy to look at, people will read it. By contrast, picture a page filled top to bottom with type. Nobody wants to wade through that. • If … [Read more...] about How to write a readable memo

Paid time off can be anything under the sun, even unlimited vacation

Time off isn't required by law, "but it's so commonplace that employees expect it." And for morale and retention it's a necessity. How the firm sets up its time off policy is its own business, says Vanessa G. Nelson, SPHR, CLRL, president of the human resources consulting firm Expert Human Resources in Flint, MI. But there are a lot of decisions it has to make. The vacation … [Read more...] about Paid time off can be anything under the sun, even unlimited vacation

Two ADA surprises: odd disabilities and legal fees that can hit the sky

First, what the firm may not think is a disability could well be one. Second, the ADA applies to access to public places such as stores and restaurants – and law offices. And while it "has a noble purpose," along the way "it's been hijacked by a subset of plaintiffs who have made it their life's work to target as many public accommodations as possible for monetary gain," says … [Read more...] about Two ADA surprises: odd disabilities and legal fees that can hit the sky

To understand employees, understand their generations

To a great extent, managing staff (and also understanding the partners) depends on recognizing where each person stands in the generational scale. Here’s how the generations from the beginning of the 20th century differ as employees. • The Lost Generation (born 1883-1900). These are the people who fought in World War I. • The Greatest Generation (born 1901-1924). This is the … [Read more...] about To understand employees, understand their generations

To manage staff better, interview at the start of the job, not at the end

Rarely does an employer get useable and accurate information in an exit interview, says Kristine Sexter, president of WorkWise Productions, a Tulsa organization that provides consulting in staff recruiting, development, and retention. When somebody quits a job, it’s often because of a lack of trust in the employer. And rarely will anybody admit that. Ask “why are you leaving?” … [Read more...] about To manage staff better, interview at the start of the job, not at the end

Beware Lilly Ledbetter; it extends the time limit for unfair pay claims

A relatively new law that all but eliminates the statute of limitations on equal pay lawsuits for women brings yet more employment law concerns administrators need to be aware of. It’s the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Employers can expect an upswing in claims that their female employees are underpaid, says Denise Murphy, an employment law attorney with Rubin and Rudman in … [Read more...] about Beware Lilly Ledbetter; it extends the time limit for unfair pay claims

Retaliation gets broader and more expensive and is hitting all offices

What’s the single greatest employment law risk employers are facing? Retaliation. The EEOC reports that retaliation claims have been on the upswing for 10 years and now sit at the top of the list of employment law matters. Heightening the issue is the fact that an employee can cry retaliation – and the firm can have to pay out a lot of money – even if the complaint … [Read more...] about Retaliation gets broader and more expensive and is hitting all offices