By Dr. Steve M. Cohen Sometimes office management is more a matter of quickly throwing out a good answer rather than some profound strategy or statement. I'm not trying to minimize the organization and old-fashioned brainpower that goes into managing an organization. If you've read many of my blogs, you know that I view your job as challenging and often frustrating. It's … [Read more...] about Cheap management tricks that really work
Termination
Why do some get away with sexual harassment?
By Lynne Curry bio Harvey Weinstein. Bill Cosby. Roger Ailes. Bill O'Reilly. Uber executives. And maybe someone you know. How can these men not "get it?" How do they get away with sexually harassing those who work for them? And if you're a practice administrator or HR officer, how do you protect your company, and your and your company's reputation? First, these … [Read more...] about Why do some get away with sexual harassment?
Give a ‘wake-up call’ to these 3 common types of “nightmare staffers”
Nightmare employees come in all sorts of packages. Here are three of them: the staffer who always has an excuse, the staffer who downplays any negative remark about performance, and the staffer who demands the manager's constant attention. Management consultant Diane Ciotta, president of The Keynote Effect in Long Branch, NJ, tells how to handle each one. The excuser … [Read more...] about Give a ‘wake-up call’ to these 3 common types of “nightmare staffers”
Employment Law Update for HR Managers
By Mike O'Brien bio Here is my periodic update prepared for interested HR professionals trying to deal with the complex American employment laws. In this update: REPEAL? REPAIR? REPLACE? NOT FOR NOW. EEOC/DOJ TAKE OPPOSITE VIEWS IN SEXUAL ORIENTATION DISPUTE DOL SURVEY ON OVERTIME RULES ASKS SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS TO FIRE OR NOT TO FIRE? EMPLOYERS SHOULD READ … [Read more...] about Employment Law Update for HR Managers
5 proven ways to keep “toxic employees” off your payroll
Got toxins in the office? Toxins are people who cause dissent. They undermine people. They create an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. They kill the camaraderie. They are toxic because they cause enough misery to force worthwhile staffers to leave. Medical firms can find themselves with toxic people at both the physician and staff levels. So here are ideas on how not to … [Read more...] about 5 proven ways to keep “toxic employees” off your payroll
Protecting your employees from workplace violence
By Lynne Curry bio On June 5, 2017, John Neumann Jr. brought a semiautomatic pistol and a hunting knife into his former workplace. He killed five people before turning his gun against himself. It's become chillingly commonplace for us to learn that a terminated employee has stormed into his former workplace and killed those he holds accountable. Each time, the rest … [Read more...] about Protecting your employees from workplace violence
Employment Law updates for HR managers
By Mike O'Brien bio This is my periodic update prepared for interested HR professionals trying to deal with the complex American employment laws. Federal Appeals Court says sexual orientation bias is illegal: A federal appeals court (covering Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana) has ruled, for the first time, that existing law prohibiting discrimination based on … [Read more...] about Employment Law updates for HR managers
How to make firing easier on everyone
The termination process is difficult for a manager, as well as the staffer being fired. These three steps won't alleviate all the pain, but they will make the process easier for all concerned. 1 Do it Friday While some human resources experts say firing is best done in the middle of the week, most recommend doing it on Friday afternoon. This time is best for the office because … [Read more...] about How to make firing easier on everyone
22 questions a manager should ask before firing an employee
By Lynne Curry bio The final revenge of the fired employee: The manager makes an unwitting but critical mistake that unravels the firing decision or results in a painful payout to the employee. If you'd like to fire an employee without backfire, you need to consider good faith and just cause, then ask yourself twenty-two questions. Good faith Courts in … [Read more...] about 22 questions a manager should ask before firing an employee
5 guidelines that save you if you supervise a bully employee
By Lynne Curry bio Do you supervise a bully employee? An employee who sees your job as a promotional opportunity and will stop at nothing to get you out of the way? If you supervise a bully employee, you know the angst. Supposedly, you have more power, and so should be able to handle the employee's antics. Except the bully employee might have the protection of … [Read more...] about 5 guidelines that save you if you supervise a bully employee