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
Managing staff
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
How to implement a leave-sharing program
"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
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
How to respond when a staffer is suspected of drug or alcohol abuse
When the manager suspects a staffer of drug or alcohol abuse, a lot of factors come into play. Yes, a medical office can require drug testing and terminate the staffer. But the manager needs to be aware of all the issues that can enter into that picture, says attorney Jeffrey M. Schlossberg of Ruskin Moscou Faltischek in Uniondale, NY. Approach the staffer in the wrong way … [Read more...] about How to respond when a staffer is suspected of drug or alcohol abuse