"How can I help?" It's a question that many employees ask when a coworker or a coworker's family member is facing a serious medical issue. One way that employers can facilitate assistance is to allow employees to donate time off to their coworkers who have exhausted all available leave. At first glance, a leave-sharing program appears to be a win-win-win solution. It's a … [Read more...] about How to implement a leave-sharing program
Managing staff
Racism and allegations: never easy to manage
By Steve M. Cohen bio As current headlines and news broadcasts attest, racial relations are still an issue in this nation. For employers and managers, the issue can be especially difficult. You may have legitimate complaints from a wide range of employees. At other times, an action or comment may offend some and not others. Then there are instances where race is … [Read more...] about Racism and allegations: never easy to manage
Three more people issues, some of them legal and some not easily answered
For a manager, the people questions never stop coming. Here are three of them – the staffer who criticizes the office or the manager, the legal issues of layoffs, and how to handle a smoker’s halitosis. They are answered by attorney Shari L. Lane of Northwest Employment Law in Portland, OR. Protected vs. snippy remarks Can the office discipline a staffer for … [Read more...] about Three more people issues, some of them legal and some not easily answered
Large West Virginia office finds easier way to solve small problems
When managing two offices, eight physicians, and 35 staff became a job of "constantly trying to put out a fire," a West Virginia manager did what many managers do. She named supervisors – one for the clinical staff, one for front office and billing, one for lab, and one for the satellite office. But along with that, she set up an easy way "to put a large number of people … [Read more...] about Large West Virginia office finds easier way to solve small problems
Doesn’t work well with others: study finds ‘team avoiders’ may have valid concerns
When a company advertises for an open position, it's not uncommon to see the words "must be a team player." "Team player" is a hot HR term, even in jobs where employees actually spend most of their time working alone with only a smattering of group projects. Unfortunately, the need for team players has sometimes also become a lazy justification for choosing not to hire … [Read more...] about Doesn’t work well with others: study finds ‘team avoiders’ may have valid concerns
Fear in termination: the sympathetic plaintiff
By Steve M. Cohen bio I recently saw a story about an employee who was terminated by her (small-business) employer. This employee had numerous experiences of personal tragedy in her family. In the previous year, she had lost one of her parents, another relative passed away, and then her son developed kidney failure. She found out that she was a viable donor and … [Read more...] about Fear in termination: the sympathetic plaintiff
Accountability is a two-way street for medical office managers
By Steve M. Cohen bio One pitfall that's tough to avoid is human nature. Call it psychology or individual weakness, it almost always comes down to traps that you should avoid. One of the easiest things to stumble over involves seemingly straightforward missteps that can have an office manager labeled "hypocritical." Seldom is this more on display than in areas … [Read more...] about Accountability is a two-way street for medical office managers
Making tough decisions: reward good employees by removing bad ones
By Steve M. Cohen bio I'm sure you've seen advice regarding employee bonus and incentive systems, including some that are quite complex. The idea is that, to achieve a high-performance workplace, you need to motivate employees and achieve maximum efficiency. None of this is wrong, but I often suggest another strategy that surprises a lot of people: just get rid … [Read more...] about Making tough decisions: reward good employees by removing bad ones
Three kinds of irritating staffers and how to deal with them amicably
The worst part of any manager’s job is dealing with problem behavior. And that’s the very part of the job that can never be ignored, says Cathleen C. Snyder, SPHR, senior human resources consultant with Strategic HR Inc., a Cincinnati human resources consulting and outsourcing firm. Allow the behavior to continue, and besides the fact that it’s a pain to live with, the other … [Read more...] about Three kinds of irritating staffers and how to deal with them amicably
Keep your medical office humming by keeping employees engaged
By Steve M. Cohen bio Every organization faces management issues that, if ignored, can be perilous. A recent story told of a suburban bank that lost a huge chunk of its staff when some 35 employees left within a single week. Without knowing the details, it's impossible to guess the causes. But it's very likely this business suffered fundamental organizational … [Read more...] about Keep your medical office humming by keeping employees engaged