Experience is often a manager's best education. Such is the case for the long-time manager of a practice in New Jersey, who has found that the best way to prevent the last minute sick calls is to allow staff to carry their sick days over to the next year. But instead of transferring as sick days, the time becomes personal days to use however they want. As in any office the … [Read more...] about NJ firm finds an easy way to reduce last-minute sick calls
Managing the office
What we’re overlooking when it comes to time management
By Brady Wilson bio Many times, I've seen business leaders send their employees off to time management courses in the hopes that the training will help increase engagement and productivity. Many times, I've seen those same leaders show bewilderment when the training doesn't seem to have any impact—or worse yet, results in employees being less engaged and less … [Read more...] about What we’re overlooking when it comes to time management
Growing your law firm with a carefully crafted blog
By Brenda A. Barnes bio First, there were firm newsletters. Law firms sent them out as a way to build community among existing and prospective clients. They were a branding tool that also fostered loyalty. Then, the internet accelerated that formula, allowing law firms to not only save money on print and mailing, but also push this content marketing vehicle out … [Read more...] about Growing your law firm with a carefully crafted blog
Keep your firm and yourself cyber safe with some digital spring cleaning
The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and Better Business Bureau (BBB) are encouraging consumers to get their online lives in good order by conducting a thorough cleanse of their cyber clutter and make "digital spring cleaning" an annual ritual to help protect valuable personal data. A NCSA survey found that preventing identity theft is a top safety concern for Americans, … [Read more...] about Keep your firm and yourself cyber safe with some digital spring cleaning
Ask this one question to keep the clients coming
A client survey can take whatever form and be as detailed as the firm wants. But there is just one question to worry about: Will you refer us? The answer had better be a yes. Here are two very different ways to approach it. The first is simple and direct and is outlined by Linda Bishop of Thought Transformation, an Atlanta sales consulting firm. Bishop is also author … [Read more...] about Ask this one question to keep the clients coming
Making the case for case management software
By Elizabeth M. Miller, MBA bio Time management and organization are two of the key components to efficiency and thus, profitability. The value of organized systems in place to gather and store key data pertaining to client files and other important information cannot be overlooked. The answer to the dilemma of storing all data relating to every client file is the … [Read more...] about Making the case for case management software
‘Favorites’ list source of popular employee awards
When Audrey M. Serban gives her staff members rewards for work done well, she can be sure the reward is something the employee will like. That's because she has a list of 'Favorites' for each staffer, and chooses the gift, large or small, from that. Serban, office manager for Fisher & Phillips, LLP, in Murray Hill, NJ, says, "I thought I'd share an idea that seems to … [Read more...] about ‘Favorites’ list source of popular employee awards
What employee drug use is costing your practice
Workers with substance use disorders miss nearly 50 percent more days than their peers, and up to six weeks of work annually, according to analysis from the National Safety Council, NORC at the University of Chicago, and Shatterproof. Despite the alarming new statistics, there is a persistent gap between employer perceptions of impact and the actual human and business costs … [Read more...] about What employee drug use is costing your practice
A dozen bugaboo words to cogitate
Here are a dozen words that get mispronounced and misused so much that the wrong form can sound as good as the right one. Aesthetic. There's a th in the middle, so it's pronounced as-THE-tic. It's not as-TE-tic. Height. It doesn't have a th at the end. A box may have length, width, breadth, and depth, but it doesn't have heighth. It just has height. Asterisk. Keep the … [Read more...] about A dozen bugaboo words to cogitate
Biases and the use of flexible work arrangements in law firms
While the availability of flexible work arrangements has increased in law firms, new research released by The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance suggests that not all lawyers and staff are using the policies. The third annual Law Firm Flexibility Benchmarking Survey, recently released, examines the availability and usage of flexible work policies in large U.S. law firms. … [Read more...] about Biases and the use of flexible work arrangements in law firms