With the country’s attention focused on the Ebola virus, many American’s may overlook the fact that flu season is right around the corner. And, while it is impossible to predict how this flu season will compare to previous years, one thing is certain: Employers nationwide are likely to see millions of lost work days and billions of dollars in lost productivity. … [Read more...] about Flu, not Ebola, poses biggest threat to workplace productivity
Managing staff
PTO gives unquestioned days off plus a bank for catastrophes
The standard days-off policy has two downfalls, says the office manager of a six-physician, 16-staff office in North Carolina. One is that it isn’t fair, because some people abuse the sick leave and turn it into extra vacation days. The other is that keeping track of how long each person has been out and for what is a nightmare. So the office manager moved to a paid-time-off … [Read more...] about PTO gives unquestioned days off plus a bank for catastrophes
Whatever you call it, negative workplace behavior is expensive
By Dr. Steve M. Cohen Whether you call it harassment, bullying or something else, negative workplace behavior can be expensive for any business. Unhappy employees today are also more likely to seek legal recourse against their employers, a fact that even medical office managers should keep in mind. Although the medical field is highly professional, it's also staffed with … [Read more...] about Whatever you call it, negative workplace behavior is expensive
Model Form: ABC Medical Office notification to applicants of pre-employment screening
Why you need this screening notification: Collecting information about job applicants from social media websites like Facebook can get you into legal hot water. That's because the information you collect may be considered protected, personal information to the extent applicants can show they had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the material. How this screening … [Read more...] about Model Form: ABC Medical Office notification to applicants of pre-employment screening
How to protect your practice against costly pregnancy discrimination claims
"I'm having a baby!" When an employee utters those words, it's time for congratulations. It's also time for caution. The danger is pregnancy discrimination, and it happens often because employees are well attuned to their rights. The protection comes from the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which is an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. It applies to offices with 15 … [Read more...] about How to protect your practice against costly pregnancy discrimination claims
How to find out what your staff really thinks of you
What do staff think of their manager? All managers have blind spots, or places where, unbeknownst to themselves, their employees view them negatively. For that reason, a staff survey is a good idea. But a manager should survey in person, not on paper. People will say a lot more than they will write. All that's needed are two questions: 1 Tell me something I'm doing well that … [Read more...] about How to find out what your staff really thinks of you
No training budget? No problem!
By Steve M. Cohen bio Whatever happened to the training budgets? Oh, I forgot—it's the economy, stupid! But even in the current climate, don't forget that employees still have the need for training. Training can be related to, and even intertwined with, good morale, professional development, and team building. In fact, team learning is team building. No one disputes … [Read more...] about No training budget? No problem!
Ebola: what medical office managers and staff need to know
As concerns about Ebola dominate the news and social media, and have become a topic of discussion at medical workplaces, it is important to separate fact from speculation. Medical Office Manager shares the following information from the World Health Organization (WHO) to help you and your staff better understand Ebola and its potential impact. Key facts Ebola virus disease … [Read more...] about Ebola: what medical office managers and staff need to know
Model Tool: Ebola: information for healthcare workers
Why you need this handout: As Ebola dominates the news and social media, people—and especially healthcare workers—have become concerned. How this handout helps you: This handout allows you to share information with your staff. How to use this handout: Share this handout with your staff. … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Ebola: information for healthcare workers
Model Tool: Ebola: customizable memo for staff
Why you need this memo: As Ebola dominates the news and social media, people—and especially healthcare workers—have become concerned. How this memo helps you: This memo, together with the Ebola informational handout for staff, allows you to communicate with your staff and address concerns. How to use this memo: Customize this memo as needed and use it with the Ebola … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Ebola: customizable memo for staff