Many employees like their bosses, but managers still have much work to do, according to new research from staffing firm Accountemps. Nearly two in three workers (64 percent) said they are happy with their supervisors, and another 29 percent are somewhat happy with their bosses. Only eight percent of workers give their manager a thumbs down. Yet, despite generally positive … [Read more...] about Survey: Most workers happy with managers but don’t want the role themselves
Managing staff
Office politics and how it damages your practice
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio Office politics can be a problem in any size medical office—from a company as large as 1,000+ to as little as a solo physician with two staff members. A definition "Office politics" is the use of networking within an organization to further one's own agenda. The word "networking" could easily be interchanged with the word "gossiping". … [Read more...] about Office politics and how it damages your practice
Pop Quiz: Are you ready for the new FLSA overtime rules?
Effective December 1, 2016, the new FLSA (Fair Labor Standard's Act) overtime rules come into effect and the minimum salary level for non-exempt employees is increasing. What this means for medical practices is that some employees you currently have categorized as exempt might actually qualify for overtime pay. Under the new rules, to be categorized as exempt, employees must … [Read more...] about Pop Quiz: Are you ready for the new FLSA overtime rules?
Are a third of your employees looking for their next jobs?
Known as "Continuous Candidates," more than one-third (37%) of employees across the globe are always looking for their next job opportunity, finds a global study of job seekers conducted by ManpowerGroup Solutions, part of ManpowerGroup. With employee churn becoming increasingly costly for companies, it is more important than ever for employers to step up their efforts to … [Read more...] about Are a third of your employees looking for their next jobs?
Decoding workplace personality conflicts
By Lynne Curry bio No one told you when you accepted a medical office manager job that your primary role would be that of peacemaker. You thought you'd be overseeing systems and finances; that the major hiccups you'd have to resolve would be ones involving computers and upset patients. Not even close. Instead, you put out people fires daily. The players There's … [Read more...] about Decoding workplace personality conflicts
An inexpensive organizational fix: communication
By Dr. Steve M. Cohen I've found that most organizations can benefit significantly from a simple, low-cost change in their operations: more two-way communication. For busy medical office managers, time can be among their most valuable commodities so I don't make this recommendation lightly. But even a few minutes each day to foster better communication with your staff can pay … [Read more...] about An inexpensive organizational fix: communication
Spending too much time, effort, and money on recruitment? Borrow from others’ ‘best practices’
By Carl Kutsmode bio Hiring top talent for your medical practice isn't easy. And, the bad news is that it won't get easier anytime soon. Just consider a few facts: The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the employment of staff physician assistants is projected to grow 30 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Roughly … [Read more...] about Spending too much time, effort, and money on recruitment? Borrow from others’ ‘best practices’
Keeping the records long enough… but not too long
Records retention raises questions in almost all offices. And as a result, offices tend to hang onto records far too long, says attorney and records management expert Donald S. Skupsky, JD, CRM. Skupsky is president and CEO of Information Requirements Clearinghouse in Denver, which provides consulting services as well as software and publications on the legal requirements of … [Read more...] about Keeping the records long enough… but not too long
How to disagree with your friends about politics and keep them too
In past elections, our front yards, t-shirts, car bumpers and water cooler conversations proudly campaigned for the presidential candidate of our choice. In 2016, most are afraid to utter the name of the person they plan to vote for on November 8. Research by Joseph Grenny and David Maxfield, cofounders of VitalSmarts and the authors of the business bestseller Crucial … [Read more...] about How to disagree with your friends about politics and keep them too
Office predators can take many forms
By Steve M. Cohen bio Although human behavior covers a huge range, it can often be categorized into several general areas. One of these categories is "opportunistic" and could even be described as predatory. With this kind of behavior, the individual sees an opportunity to take advantage of a person or a situation and then does so. For example, I overheard two … [Read more...] about Office predators can take many forms