Why you need this policy: Workplace bullying is a serious and common occurrence, and your practice has a responsibility to make sure it does everything possible to prevent it. How this policy helps you: This policy helps define workplace bullying, and provides guidelines for what will not be tolerated. How to use this policy: Customize this policy for your medical … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Workplace bullying
Managing staff
These office engagements don’t involve a ring
By Steve M. Cohen bio It's always exciting when someone at the office gets engaged to marry. There's another type of engagement that is important at work: engagement in the job. For any staff member, manager or even an owner/partner, there are key questions: Are you engaged? Is your staff engaged? The answers are critical. I often quote the Gallagher Organization. … [Read more...] about These office engagements don’t involve a ring
Try this “win-win” solution to stop personal internet use by staff
Manager Beth C. Pharr of North East Orthopaedics in Tupelo, MS, relies on a basic management practice when she presents any new policy. "I make it a win-win situation," she says. "I tell staff 'this why it's necessary, and this is how it benefits you.'" Such was the case when Pharr set a policy to solve a problem common to almost every office – personal internet use. To … [Read more...] about Try this “win-win” solution to stop personal internet use by staff
Handling complainers: every office has one, but what should you do?
By Steve M. Cohen bio Handling an "office complainer" may be one of the most overlooked management issues in the books. We all know a complainer—someone who never seems to be happy with the way things are, and often attributes to others their perceived woes and the perceived woes of any organization they're involved with. This can be a minor issue. In fact, most of us are … [Read more...] about Handling complainers: every office has one, but what should you do?
Fairness in the employment setting can be everything
By Steve M. Cohen bio I have worked closely with two organizations: The Transgender Institute (TTI) and the Gender Policy Associates (GPA). TTI is an organization that provides therapy, consultation, and coaching to transgender people. This is a population that is much misunderstood; in schools they are subject to extensive bullying. At work, they are often subject to … [Read more...] about Fairness in the employment setting can be everything
NY manager gets more done with 15 minute one-on-one meetings
Offices with a limited number of staffers can follow the management lead of a New York medical office manager who has replaced full-staff meetings with 15-minute individual meetings in which she talks with each person privately. In a group, not everything gets brought out, says the manager of the practice, which has just seven staffers. There is no opportunity to listen to … [Read more...] about NY manager gets more done with 15 minute one-on-one meetings
Model Policy: Catastrophic leave program
Why you need this policy: A leave-sharing program appears to be a win-win-win solution for employer, donating employee, and receiving employee. But employers need to be careful when implementing a program like this to avoid some potential administrative, managerial, and tax problems. How this policy helps you: Rules regarding an employee's right to various types of leave … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Catastrophic leave program
90 minutes of unpaid time off ends a bookkeeping nightmare
A Kentucky medical office manager has devised a method to control time off, focusing on making the paperwork easier. Keeping track of 45-minute appointments or an hour of personal leave is a bookkeeping nightmare, says the administrator for a five-physician women's care clinic. And it's especially difficult for a large practice such as hers, which has 26 staff. So she combined … [Read more...] about 90 minutes of unpaid time off ends a bookkeeping nightmare
Your office can improve operations with a few easy changes
By Steve M. Cohen bio I'm sure you've seen one of Hollywood's "political" movies. You know the kind: drama unfolds between a candidate and (fill in the blank), while his or her selfless team of volunteers labor furiously in the background, assuring that the candidate still wins, despite spending all of his or her time dealing with the drama. Hollywood fantasy, right? … [Read more...] about Your office can improve operations with a few easy changes
A little stress can be good, but a lot can be disastrous
By Steve M. Cohen bio There's a big issue that I think is overlooked too often in many offices: job related stress and anxiety. Some stress is good. A certain tension, including awareness of deadlines and the feeling of meeting challenges, is a good thing in any workplace. But too much stress, or stress for too long a time, will overload people. Some handle it … [Read more...] about A little stress can be good, but a lot can be disastrous