Law Office Manager

General

Employee rules change dramatically with 50 and up

By Steve M. Cohen  bio When it comes to sick leave in your office of 50 or more employees, you have to follow the doctor's orders regardless of whether or not you think the reason for the leave is justified. Because most office managers are so singularly focused on their firm, they are appalled to learn of all the limitations placed upon them by government rules and … [Read more...] about Employee rules change dramatically with 50 and up

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

How to tame two staffers at war: Keep it civil and focus on the business

A conflict between two staffers is serious business. People who don't get along don't share information with each other, don't help each other out, "and at worst try to sabotage one another." Moreover, there's emotional contagion. Just as a spouse coming home in a negative mood fouls the attitude of the rest of the family, two fighting staffers cast a pall over the office. … [Read more...] about How to tame two staffers at war: Keep it civil and focus on the business

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

3 quick training tips

Here are three quick applications of new research in the field of learning sciences on how to instill deeper learning in trainees: Present a problem and ask your trainees to try to solve the problem first before providing the solution. Ask trainees to explain how they will use their new skills. This requires them to consider the training in the context of their work and … [Read more...] about 3 quick training tips

5 letters that can help you get more referrals

Getting referrals "is just common sense." It's no more than writing letters asking for them, says Trey Ryder, a law firm marketing consultant in Payson, AZ, who specializes in education-based marketing. Yet few firms ever try it. Ryder breaks the job down into five letters. They work, he says. He cites one estate planner client who used all five and wound up with several … [Read more...] about 5 letters that can help you get more referrals

Model Policy: Employee computer use and social networking

Why you need this policy: The law governing your right to discipline employees for the things they say on blogs and social networks is still in its infancy stages. But even from the early cases, it has become clear that online conversations are not simply private matters. There's a big difference between bad mouthing a company, supervisor or colleague to a friend in a bar over … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Employee computer use and social networking

Why it pays to enforce the “little” rules that your staff often ignore

It’s enforcing the little rules that spells the difference between a professional office and one that is not so professional. The seemingly minor rules are what create a culture that attracts and keeps top staff. What are they? They are the guidelines for behavior elements such as personal phone calls, dress, attitude and adhering to working hours. Violations won’t cause the … [Read more...] about Why it pays to enforce the “little” rules that your staff often ignore

How to sift through and solve staff complaints

This month’s idea comes from a consultant who is also a former medical practice manager. It’s a short and easy way to handle one staffer’s complaint about another. The starting point is to sift through the complaints to identify which ones warrant the manager’s attention and which ones staff should deal with on their own, says Cindy Fondren Muise of Peyton, CO. As a manager, … [Read more...] about How to sift through and solve staff complaints