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
Risk management
For managers, prohibition is not a bad thing
By Steve M. Cohen bio This time of year, many organizations start planning picnics, barbecues or other events that might involve alcohol. Like the stereotypical Christmas party, these situations could expose you or your organization to an expensive lawsuit. A client—without consulting anyone first—fired off the following memo during what can best be termed a burst of … [Read more...] about For managers, prohibition is not a bad thing
8 pitfalls of letting employees work from home
Contrary to what you might have heard in HR circles, refusing to let employees work from home will not make your medical office a dinosaur that nobody will ever want to work for. In fact, it will put you in the same position as the nearly 65 percent of employers that don’t allow telecommuting. But telecommuting does offer significant business advantages. And to the extent … [Read more...] about 8 pitfalls of letting employees work from home
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
Due process: if it’s not written, it didn’t happen
By Steve M. Cohen bio Imagine an employee who is consistently late to work. The excuses abound—car trouble, overslept, lost track of time answering email, planned on staying later—you've probably heard them all. The manager warns the employee and for a week it improves. The next week, however, the employee is slipping again and is warned yet again. This game … [Read more...] about Due process: if it’s not written, it didn’t happen
Top 10 patient safety concerns
Patient safety is a top priority for every healthcare organization, but knowing where to direct initiatives can be daunting. To help organizations decide where to focus their efforts, ECRI Institute has compiled its second annual list of the Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for Healthcare Organizations. "This is more than just a list; it's a reminder that, despite the attention … [Read more...] about Top 10 patient safety concerns
How managers can avoid tripping on due process safety net
By Steve M. Cohen bio For many, spring is baseball or soccer season, a time to start getting out and enjoying life. But in your workplace, you will also find team sports that can impact your bottom line or organizational effectiveness. If someone in your organization is not playing ball the way they should, it's also a three-strike situation (or a red card, if you … [Read more...] about How managers can avoid tripping on due process safety net
Best and worst states for doctors
Doctors are among the most highly paid, educated, and celebrated professions in the United States. The profession has also been undergoing intense change in recent years, with the Affordable Care Act, the rise of branded hospital networks, the impending retirement of baby boomers, and an increasingly litigious society all complicating the lives of doctors and providing pause to … [Read more...] about Best and worst states for doctors
With the right effort, even difficult employee issues can be solved
By Steve M. Cohen bio An employee who had been terminated from one of my client organizations later called the whistleblower/action hotline. She was using the hotline in an attempt to retrieve her job or, at least, to vent her anger and frustration at the situation. I listened and discovered that she had been terminated for frequent violations of the office dress … [Read more...] about With the right effort, even difficult employee issues can be solved