Before a law firm accepts any new file, it must first ensure that no conflict of interest exists. Yet, despite having stringent conflict-checking procedures, conflicts of interest are still a serious problem for many firms. How do your procedures stack up? Do they address these common mistakes? Any firm knows a conflict of interest can result in bad things. … [Read more...] about Nine traps to avoid when checking for conflicts
Risk management
Not just another HR story
By Lynne Curry bio Which do you believe? ☑ You can't trust anyone in HR: they'll get you talking, look sympathetic, but then turn everything you say over to management; ☑ HR is a luxury we don't need when we need all our budget resources to pay the employees who produce; ☑ HR = a partnership for managers, employees & organizations; ☑ HR = lots of talk + … [Read more...] about Not just another HR story
The forgotten cause of malpractice claims is poor communication
One often ignored cause of malpractice claims is nothing more than poor client communication. People judge their attorneys by the quality of the relationship, explains Nora Bergman, a Tampa attorney and advisor with the Atticus law firm practice management company in Mt. Dora, FL. "That's true of all clients," she says, "whether bluecollar worker or sophisticated banker." They … [Read more...] about The forgotten cause of malpractice claims is poor communication
You can be personally liable for what happens in your workplace
By Lynne Curry bio It comes as a surprise to most managers when a plaintiff names them personally as a co-defendant in a lawsuit against the manager's company. The ugly truth? Personal tort actions against individual managers and employees often accompany discrimination and harassment claims. Disgruntled employees may target a manager not for what he did, but for … [Read more...] about You can be personally liable for what happens in your workplace
5 blind spots in sexual harassment policies and how to fix them
The past couple of years have witnessed the morphing of workplace sexual harassment prevention from legal requirement to moral imperative. And while the recent fervor is a bit unnerving for employers, to the extent it shatters complacency, it's a positive and even necessary development. Sexual harassment has evolved dramatically in the past two decades—in terms of not just … [Read more...] about 5 blind spots in sexual harassment policies and how to fix them
How to support the caregivers in your workplace
Half of working female caregivers feel they have to choose between being a good employee and being a good daughter, says a survey by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network. In addition, one quarter (25 percent) of daughters find there is a workplace stigma in being a caregiver, and 23 percent believe their supervisor is unsympathetic. "We are … [Read more...] about How to support the caregivers in your workplace
How employers can help break the stigma of mental health in the workplace?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! With approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiencing mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, it is imperative that today's employers focus on breaking the stigma around mental health in the workplace. Why is it important to employers? By addressing this taboo topic, employees can educate themselves and … [Read more...] about How employers can help break the stigma of mental health in the workplace?
Secrecy in the age of social media: six ways to keep sensitive practice information offline
You can be sure that most of your employees are active on social media. For younger ones, in fact, using Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are as natural as breathing. According to James Pooley, author of "Secrets: Managing Information Assets in the Age of Cyberespionage," social media and the sharing culture it has sparked are very real threats to organizations. "The … [Read more...] about Secrecy in the age of social media: six ways to keep sensitive practice information offline
How to beat the workplace bully in your law office
Loss of good employees, low morale and communication breakdowns caused by office bullies are costing your law office plenty, says Dr. Lynne Curry, Regional Director of Training and Business Consulting for Avitus, a national firm with offices coast to coast According to Curry, more than 65 million American workers have either been bullied on the job or seen their coworkers … [Read more...] about How to beat the workplace bully in your law office
3 steps a manager must take to end harmful gossip in the workplace
By Lynne Curry bio The conversation stops when you walk into the break room. Two employees look at each other, mouth "later," and head back to their desks. An hour later, you see another employee dart into the restroom and come out five minutes later with reddened eyes. You ask her "what's up?" and when she looks like she might burst into tears, you usher her into your … [Read more...] about 3 steps a manager must take to end harmful gossip in the workplace