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!