The environment for leave management has become increasingly complex. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and employee awareness of rights under these laws and others have made managing leave while remaining in legal and regulatory compliance more difficult than even. Terri Rhodes, executive director of the Disability Management … [Read more...] about 10 tips to manage employee leave
Employee benefits
Model Tool: Catastrophic Leave Program Donation Form
Why you need this form: Leave-sharing programs must meet certain criteria in order to be valid under the Internal Revenue Service's general tax rules and under various state laws. How this form helps you: A leave-sharing program must be in writing and created as a "leave bank" into which employees may deposit donated leave. How to use this form: Check with your state law to … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Catastrophic Leave Program Donation Form
Trending HR issues your employee handbook should cover
According to a survey conducted by XpertHR, emerging HR issues are starting to appear in employee handbooks—but very slowly. It's hard to keep up "Employee handbooks continue to be a perennial challenge and opportunity for employers," says Peggy Carter-Ward, head of content for XpertHR, a provider of online compliance tools and guidance for HR professionals. "The … [Read more...] about Trending HR issues your employee handbook should cover
Wellness is a staff benefit and a productivity builder
A Miami firm has set up a wellness program that carries benefits for the attorneys and staff as well as for the firm itself. The firm began the program simply because promoting healthy living "is the right thing to do" in the working world, says Mario M. Rumasuglia, director of administration at Berger Singerman, which has 70 attorneys and 170 staff. And it's a win for both … [Read more...] about Wellness is a staff benefit and a productivity builder
Are you ruining your employees’ family dinners?
It's no secret that technology plays a major role in today's modern world. But what happens when technology starts blurring the line between work and non-work hours? The results of a recent survey commissioned by Workfront and conducted online by Harris Poll with more than 600 full-time employees working a typical 9-5 schedule, found that 56% of workers feel that technology … [Read more...] about Are you ruining your employees’ family dinners?
Creative approach to employee tardiness results in improved productivity
Broad and Cassel, a Florida-based law firm with nine locations across the state, wanted to address the issue of employee tardiness and explored the possibility of implementing a flexible schedule for support staff. "I took into consideration that my staff is composed of many parents/single parents," says office administrator Lourdes Sanders. "A flexible schedule would give … [Read more...] about Creative approach to employee tardiness results in improved productivity
Seattle office provides financial education for staff
"People aren't necessarily financially literate," says Ann S. Callahan, human resources manager for Helsell Fetterman, a 30-staff, 30-attorney firm in Seattle. Personal finance "is not something they learn in school." As an HR person and a long-time administrator of 401k plans, Callahan has seen "a wide range of ways people use their plans and how they don't use them." She … [Read more...] about Seattle office provides financial education for staff
State and federal monitoring can make a manager’s life complicated
By Steve M. Cohen bio Managers can be excused for pulling out their hair over government regulations, but some are more likely to impact your office than others. Every state has a human rights commission that is tasked with investigating charges made by employees against their employers in issues of fairness. The federal government has its own human rights … [Read more...] about State and federal monitoring can make a manager’s life complicated
How to help stressed-out employees
By Steve M. Cohen bio Stress is actually a good thing—until it overloads people. This overloaded situation is actually called "dis-stress." The ability to accommodate stress is inherent in all of us, but how much stress we can manage is a personal matter. Anxiety, resulting from stress overload is not a good thing in anyone's life. What every office manager must … [Read more...] about How to help stressed-out employees
What every employee handbook absolutely, positively, must cover
No matter how small your firm may be, it needs an office manual. A manual is the authoritative source that explains what's expected of everybody. It's the firm's philosophy, and it's the rules and guidelines people have to follow. It is protection against employment law claims. And legalities aside, it prevents misunderstandings and hard feelings. Don't assume people … [Read more...] about What every employee handbook absolutely, positively, must cover