Problem #6Personnel Issues
Janielle SedorisJenna Coudin
Jessica Sullivan
Presenting the Problem!
Problem # 6 – Personnel Issues: Two highly skilled legal assistant are unable to work full-time at the office because of family obligations and travel time. You suspect that both legal assistants would stay if they could work a flextime schedule that also let them work from home part or all of the time.
Things to consider:- Cost/Time- Efficiency/Effectiveness
Possible solutions:
O -Flexibility v. Rigidity-
Two ways to be flexible:
O - Time flexibility : Allows those assistants to work part-time
O - Work location flexibility : Allow them to work from home
Rigidity:
O -Hire one or two other legal assistants.
O -Take on more responsibilities:O i. Attorneys doing more of their
own work O ii. Attorneys each doing an hour
of administrative work
Flexibility solution:O Best way to keep the good ones
around.
O Great employees, high educated assistant, who already know the firm, the personal and the cases.
O If we do not offer flexibility, these legal assistants will leave, and we will need to hire one or two new legal assistant
-Flexibility management-
O -The two can both work part-time 2 part time = 1 assistant More efficient work
O - Work once at work, once at home 2 full time = 2 assistants Easiest way to combine perfectly work and family care
-Time present in the office-
O - Work daily part-time, one in the morning (the one who have children who have after-school activities), and the other one on the afternoon.
O - Work some specific days: When one will work on Monday to Weds, the other one will work from Thursday to Saturday.
-Advantages of Flexible Work Schedules for Employees-O •Flexibility to meet family needs, personal
obligations, and life responsibilities conveniently.
O •Reduced consumption of employee commuting time and fuel costs.
O •Avoids traffic and the stresses of commuting during rush hours.
O •Reduces employee burnout due to overload. •Depending on the flexible work schedule chosen, may decrease external childcare hours and costs.
-Advantages of Flexible Work Schedules for Employers-
O •Increased employee morale, engagement, and commitment to the organization.
O •Reduced absenteeism and tardiness.O •Increased ability to recruit outstanding
employees.O •Reduced turnover of valued staff.O •Develops image as an employer of
choice with family friendly flexible work schedules.
CommunicationO Telephone
O Voicemail to text servicesO Call-forwarding to on-call secretaryO Teleconferencing through free
programs allow staff to be present at staff meetings without the 90 minute drive
CommunicationO Instant communication
O EmailO Instant messaging application to keep
all personnel in touchO Of course, telephone could work too
CommunicationO Scheduling
O Would be necessary for the assistants to be able to remotely access each attorney’s schedule
O Many programs that organize client files offer this service
O Google calendar, Outlook, smart phone applications
Dealing with Physical Files and Papers
O Mail Options:O Flexible schedule would mean one assistant
would be present during business hours to handle mail
O Each attorney could handle his or her own mail
O Keep up the free labor! Keep the student interns
O Could have a P.O. Box located in one of the assistant’s home town. Mail could be scanned and sent electronically to its recipient.
Dealing with Physical Files and Papers
O Scanning—O Would be necessary to keep
electronic files so the remote assistants have access to files they need
O Case management software
Persuading the Boss(Switching to a Flextime Schedule)
O Easy TransitionO Flexible SchedulesO Ability to Work Outside the OfficeO ReliabilityO Cost EffectiveO Saving TimeO More Efficient
The End!