Law Office Manager

Employee benefits

Paid time-off gives unquestioned days off plus a bank for catastrophes

The standard days-off policy has two downfalls, says the office manager of a professional office in North Carolina. One is that it isn't fair, because some people abuse the sick leave and turn it into extra vacation days. The other is that keeping track of how long each person has been out and for what is a nightmare. So the office manager moved to a paid time-off policy … [Read more...] about Paid time-off gives unquestioned days off plus a bank for catastrophes

Food for thought

Editor's picks: Wellness is a staff benefit and a productivity builder 17 benefits that employees like and the firm can afford From ready dinners to errand helpers, Georgia firm supports families … [Read more...] about Food for thought

New Jersey manager turns time clocks and layoffs into staff benefits

As the saying goes, "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." And a manager in a large legal practice in New Jersey did just that to avert disaster in two situations. The first potential disaster was the addition of a time clock. The practice merged with another group, and with the merger came the decision that all staff should keep the same hours. Before … [Read more...] about New Jersey manager turns time clocks and layoffs into staff benefits

3 proven ways to make firing easier on everyone

1 Do it Friday afternoon While some human resources experts say firing is best done in the middle of the week, most recommend doing it on Friday afternoon. That time is best for the office, because it lessens the possibility that the person will set up a support group in the hours immediately following. It also eliminates the possibility that the person will stay around and … [Read more...] about 3 proven ways to make firing easier on everyone

How the Affordable Care Act affects your office policies and practices

You’ve heard a lot of talk about Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). But do you know how how ACA affects your office as an employer? The ACA imposes new obligations on employers. Some of these are already in effect and are continuing obligations you should be satisfying, but others don't kick in until next year or later. Review our summary of the key … [Read more...] about How the Affordable Care Act affects your office policies and practices

Surveying for rewards

To encourage job satisfaction throughout the office, Matthew J. Bower, administrator at Luhrsen Law Group in Sarasota, surveyed staff to find out what specific types of rewards they wanted to see in their jobs. The firm had always given rewards, and they ran the gamut from plaques to cash to time off to gift certificates. But over the years, what Bower found was that the … [Read more...] about Surveying for rewards

Model Policy: Reduced schedule and flexible work arrangements

Why you need this policy: Once upon a time, the belief was that an individual could be an attorney or a primary caregiving parent but not both. Attitudes—and laws—have changed this thinking and opened the door to all kinds of flexible work arrangements allowing attorneys to balance their professional and parental obligations. How this policy helps you: Every law office needs a … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Reduced schedule and flexible work arrangements

Health reform’s delay on employer mandate raises lots of questions

Do you understand how the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act affects your business? Here’s a quick look at the mandate. There’s a new delay in health care reform. It’s a one-year postponement of what’s known as the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act. That mandate says large employers, or those with 50 or more full-time employees, have to provide health … [Read more...] about Health reform’s delay on employer mandate raises lots of questions