By Mike O’Brien bio SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND TRANSGENDER STATUS NOW ARE PROTECTED CLASSES NATIONALLY: Federal civil rights law protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees, the United States Supreme Court announced June 15 in a landmark ruling. The historic decision will extend workplace anti-discrimination and anti-harassment protections to about 8 million LGBTQ workers … [Read more...] about Supreme Court ruling extends workplace protections to LGBTQ workers
Hiring and firing
Five reasons you need an employee handbook
By Julie Ellison bio For many employers, the idea of creating an Employee Handbook is overwhelming. But the importance of having one should outweigh that hesitancy given the peace of mind it can provide you while you are busy running your law firm or business. An Employee Handbook is your roadmap for what your employees can expect from you and what you expect from your … [Read more...] about Five reasons you need an employee handbook
Hiring and firing risk factor: careless words
Today’s administrators need to be aware of the casual – albeit well meant – words that are bringing on claims of discrimination. Legal risks of both hiring and firing include careless words, says employment law attorney Donald W. Benson, a partner with Hall Booth Smith in Atlanta. The friendly hiring remark The dangers start with the interview, where a wrong comment can … [Read more...] about Hiring and firing risk factor: careless words
5 easy ways to boost employee morale
How can the manager improve morale? Here are five morale-boosters to try in your office: 1 Clinical education One of the most effective morale builders is education in the clinical work the doctors do. At one practice, the doctors give staff regular instruction on the diagnoses they see and the procedures they perform. In another office, the manager sets up sessions at … [Read more...] about 5 easy ways to boost employee morale
The best ways to find and hire qualified office staff
Recruiting staff Do you struggle to find qualified office staff who are also a good fit for your practice? It can be very difficult to figure out which methods are best for attracting the qualified job candidates you seek. Trial and error can be time consuming, and all too often results in a costly hiring mistake. Here are a few suggestions. Look within There are several … [Read more...] about The best ways to find and hire qualified office staff
In California office, the training starts on day 1 and never ends
No manager can set expectations without giving staff the tools to achieve them, says a California administrator. And the main tool for it all is never ending training. At Santa Barbara Cardiovascular Medical Group, Patricia Board starts the training on the first day a staffer comes in. She gives the newcomer a check-off list of both job and office basics and spends several … [Read more...] about In California office, the training starts on day 1 and never ends
Pick up on these revealing “non-verbal cues” to avoid hiring problem staffers
Good interviewing requires resume evaluation and a bit of psychology, says office manager Scott Ford of Dixie Primary Care in St. George, UT. It's not just what candidates say but how they say it. And Ford should know. He is a licensed clinical social worker, and as manager, he applies his skills in therapy and counseling to interviewing. Look for other clues Beyond the … [Read more...] about Pick up on these revealing “non-verbal cues” to avoid hiring problem staffers
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”
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
Avoid these 5 deadly personality traits when hiring staff
Just as important as being able to do the work and being willing to do the work is having a personality that fits the job. Five traits can spell disaster in medical office staffing. Those five traits can cause severe friction within the staff. They can stymie the work. And they can undermine the manager. Here's a definition of each plus the detection questions to ask and … [Read more...] about Avoid these 5 deadly personality traits when hiring staff