1. Problem #6 Personnel Issues
Janielle Sedoris
Jenna Coudin
Jessica Sullivan

2. 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

3. -Flexibility v. Rigidity-
Possible solutions:
-Flexibility v. Rigidity-

4. Two ways to be flexible:
- Time flexibility : Allows those assistants to work part-time
- Work location flexibility : Allow them to work from home

5. Rigidity: -Hire one or two other legal assistants.
-Take on more responsibilities:
i. Attorneys doing more of their own work
ii. Attorneys each doing an hour of administrative work

6. Flexibility solution:
 Best way to keep the good ones around.
 Great employees, high educated assistant, who already know the firm, the personal and the cases.
If we do not offer flexibility, these legal assistants will leave, and we will need to hire one or two new legal assistant

7. -Flexibility management-
-The two can both work part-time
 2 part time = 1 assistant
 More efficient work
- Work once at work, once at home
2 full time = 2 assistants
 Easiest way to combine perfectly work and family care

8. -Time present in the office-
- 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.
- Work some specific days: When one will work on Monday to Weds, the other one will work from Thursday to Saturday.

9. -Advantages of Flexible Work Schedules for Employees-
•Flexibility to meet family needs, personal obligations, and life responsibilities conveniently.
•Reduced consumption of employee commuting time and fuel costs.
•Avoids traffic and the stresses of commuting during rush hours.
•Reduces employee burnout due to overload. •Depending on the flexible work schedule chosen, may decrease external childcare hours and costs.

10. -Advantages of Flexible Work Schedules for Employers-
•Increased employee morale, engagement, and commitment to the organization.
•Reduced absenteeism and tardiness.
•Increased ability to recruit outstanding employees.
•Reduced turnover of valued staff.
•Develops image as an employer of choice with family friendly flexible work schedules.

11. Communication Telephone Voicemail to text services
Call-forwarding to on-call secretary
Teleconferencing through free programs allow staff to be present at staff meetings without the 90 minute drive

12. Communication Instant communication Email
Instant messaging application to keep all personnel in touch
Of course, telephone could work too

13. Communication Scheduling
Would be necessary for the assistants to be able to remotely access each attorney’s schedule
Many programs that organize client files offer this service
Google calendar, Outlook, smart phone applications

14. Dealing with Physical Files and Papers
Mail Options:
Flexible schedule would mean one assistant would be present during business hours to handle mail
Each attorney could handle his or her own mail
Keep up the free labor! Keep the student interns
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.

15. Dealing with Physical Files and Papers
Scanning—
Would be necessary to keep electronic files so the remote assistants have access to files they need
Case management software

16. Persuading the Boss (Switching to a Flextime Schedule)
Easy Transition
Flexible Schedules
Ability to Work Outside the Office
Reliability
Cost Effective
Saving Time
More Efficient

17. The End!