Your employment policies address cigarettes, and so you think you have the smoking issue covered. Well, think again. Electronic cigarettes have created new challenges for employers. Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, first became available in the United States in 2006 and have grown in popularity. Designed to look like cigarettes, they are battery-powered … [Read more...] about Electronic cigarettes: why your practice needs a “vaping” policy now
Compliance
Compliance and protection top employers’ list of concerns in background screening trends survey
Employers say the single most important employment screening-related challenge they face in 2015 is compliance with ever-changing laws, and the primary reason they conduct background checks is to protect their clients and customers. These are just two of dozens of findings in a recently released report, "Employment Screening 2015: Background Screening Trends & Practices," … [Read more...] about Compliance and protection top employers’ list of concerns in background screening trends survey
Stupidity outside of work
By Steve M. Cohen bio I often end up addressing some of the sadder aspects of human behavior in and around the workplace. I have frequently been called by clients to help deal with issues such as sexual harassment and bullying, an employee who uses the n-word at work and someone who gets so drunk after work that they become incredibly obnoxious in public. … [Read more...] about Stupidity outside of work
ICD-10 survey: small practices not trained, not ready for transition
A survey conducted by NueMD, a provider of cloud-based medical practice management software for small practices, finds only 13 percent of healthcare organizations are "highly confident" their business will be ready for the October 1 ICD-10 deadline. The survey is based on 1,000 responses from healthcare professionals across all 50 states. Respondents were asked how they … [Read more...] about ICD-10 survey: small practices not trained, not ready for transition
Formal complaints change everything, including your job
By Steve M. Cohen bio I am often surprised how managers are still surprised when an employee complaint becomes a major workplace or even a courtroom issue. One manager even complained, "They're trying to make a federal case out of it!" Actually, many employee complaints literally are federal cases. And if not federal, they may involve state agencies with strong … [Read more...] about Formal complaints change everything, including your job
10 tips to manage employee leave
The environment for leave management has become increasingly complex. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and employee awareness of rights under these laws and others have made managing leave while remaining in legal and regulatory compliance more difficult than even. Terri Rhodes, executive director of the Disability Management … [Read more...] about 10 tips to manage employee leave
EEOC proposes rules for employer wellness programs to avoid potential discrimination
As the focus on quality and value intensifies, wellness programs will no doubt play an integral role in the health care system. The 2014 Employer Health Benefits Survey from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation reports that "[v]irtually all large employers (200 or more workers) and most smaller employers offer at least one wellness program." Furthermore, the survey indicates … [Read more...] about EEOC proposes rules for employer wellness programs to avoid potential discrimination
Mental illness in the workplace: not just “a case of the Mondays”
By R. Scott Oswald bio When we think of "mental health" problems, many of us envision obvious symptoms. But mental health presents challenges precisely because it can be almost impossible to observe. This can become a problem in the workplace when an employee experiences intense anxiety or panic due to the stress of the position, and management simply expects these … [Read more...] about Mental illness in the workplace: not just “a case of the Mondays”
Mundane issues can break your organization
By Steve M. Cohen bio After more than 35 years in what I call "mess management," I've learned that human resources is often a major headache for managers, and sometimes an organization-killing disaster. Employee management can be extremely rewarding. A well-run organization with management and staff invested in their jobs is more than a way to make money—it's a … [Read more...] about Mundane issues can break your organization
Miami medical office manager convicted of Medicare fraud
A former office manager of a Miami-based physical and occupational therapy clinic was convicted, following a four-day trial, for her participation in a scheme that involved the fraudulent submission of more than $3.3 million in false billing to Medicare. Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Shimon Richmond, Special Agent in … [Read more...] about Miami medical office manager convicted of Medicare fraud