Law Office Manager

Termination

Tight training budget? Try reading with your staff

By Steve M. Cohen  bio Many offices place a low priority on training. It's an understandable situation, but one that rarely leads to positive results. Whether you're dealing with office technology, procedure or specialized skills, training is not something managers should take for granted. Training can also be related to good morale, professional development, and team … [Read more...] about Tight training budget? Try reading with your staff

Here’s what to do when you suspect a staffer of drug or alcohol abuse

When the firm suspects a staffer of alcohol or drug abuse, an overriding concern is how to address the issue with that employee, says Jeffrey M. Schlossberg, a partner and chair of the employment law group at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek in Uniondale, NY. The wrong words can open the door to a discrimination claim. Don't mention the obvious Whenever there's suspicion of an … [Read more...] about Here’s what to do when you suspect a staffer of drug or alcohol abuse

Do you follow these 7 rules when you fire an employee?

If it's employment at will—and for most employers it is—the office can fire whomever it wants, whenever it wants, and without any reason at all. But it's not quite that easy. With any termination, emotions take over. Besides the crushed ego, there is the cold hard fact that the office is essentially taking away a person's livelihood. And all of a sudden people start … [Read more...] about Do you follow these 7 rules when you fire an employee?

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

Even law offices should think twice before going to court

By Steve M. Cohen  bio One of the most difficult challenges I face can be helping office managers and owners or partners resist an urge to "fight it out" in court. There are times when it is necessary to take legal action or aggressively defend action against your organization. But in most cases, it should be your last resort. You may not win the fight … [Read more...] about Even law offices should think twice before going to court

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

Is firing employees for medical marijuana discrimination?

All 7 of the courts that have confronted this issue in the past decade have ruled that employers can enforce zero tolerance drug policies to fire employees for lawful use of medical marijuana. Here’s the rundown: 2013: COLORADO (Federal Court) What Happened: Brewery employee with hepatitis C, fired after testing positive for marijuana, claims use was legal under … [Read more...] about Is firing employees for medical marijuana discrimination?

What state cannabis laws say about cannabis in the workplace

ALASKA: Nothing in law requires accommodating medical use of marijuana in place of employment [Title 17: Food and Drugs, Chapter 37. Medical Uses of Marijuana, Sec. 17.37.040(d)(1)]. ARIZONA: a. Unless failing to do so would cause an employer to lose a monetary or licensing benefit under federal law, employer may not discriminate against person in hiring, termination, … [Read more...] about What state cannabis laws say about cannabis in the workplace

Can your law office employees be fired for using legal medical marijuana?

Testing positive for cannabis is a ticket for termination under the kind of “zero tolerance” policy that has come to pervade the American workplace. But what if employees are medical cannabis patients? Situation Reggie Sturd, an employee of ABC Corporation, tests positive for marijuana. He denies using or being high at work and claims he has permission under the … [Read more...] about Can your law office employees be fired for using legal medical marijuana?