ABSTRACT
Introduction .................................................................................................. 126 Purposes of Hiring an Employee........................................................ 127
Overview........................................................................................................ 127 Determine the Need for Hiring Employees ................................................ 128
Realities of an LNC Business .............................................................. 129 Hiring Issues ........................................................................................ 129
The “Real” Cost........................................................................... 129 Required Paperwork ................................................................... 130 Insurance ..................................................................................... 130 Interviewing Guidelines ............................................................. 130 Reference Checks ........................................................................ 131 Credit Checks.............................................................................. 131 Background Checks .................................................................... 132 Hiring Individuals with Disabilities .......................................... 132
The Decision ........................................................................................ 132 What the LNC Needs to Know about the Law .......................................... 133
Federal Laws ......................................................................................... 133 IRS Tax Laws ............................................................................... 133 Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).......................... 134 Understanding How the Americans with Disabilities
Act Applies to the LNC Employer.................................... 134 The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ....... 135
State-Specific Laws............................................................................... 136
Hiring Practices That Work ......................................................................... 136 Attributes of an Ideal Employee ......................................................... 136 How to Choose the “Correct” Employee ........................................... 137
Become Familiar with Specific Steps in the Hiring Process.... 137 Prepare for the Interview ........................................................... 138 Collect Salient Information during the Interview ................... 139 Present Professionally ................................................................. 141 During the Interview.................................................................. 142 What Not to Ask When Interviewing ....................................... 143
Employee Information ................................................................................. 144 Employment Information ................................................................... 145 Employee File ....................................................................................... 145
Employee Benefits......................................................................................... 145 Medical Insurance Coverage ............................................................... 149 Retirement Plans.................................................................................. 149 Paid Time Off....................................................................................... 149
LNC Firm Policies ........................................................................................ 150 Employee Dress Code.......................................................................... 150 Employee Conduct .............................................................................. 151 Grounds for Termination.................................................................... 151
Breach of Confidentiality ........................................................... 151 Stealing ........................................................................................ 151 Lying ............................................................................................ 151
The Need for Employee Orientation........................................................... 152 Employee Development................................................................................ 153 Best Practices of Working with Employees................................................. 153
Be Prepared to Set the Best Stage....................................................... 154 Be Prepared to Pay............................................................................... 155 Relinquish the Need to Micromanage ............................................... 155
References ...................................................................................................... 156 Additional Reading ....................................................................................... 157
The majority of independent legal nurse consultants (LNCs) start out small, working from home by themselves while maintaining their clinical practices. After hours, they are able to maintain a balance between billable and nonbillable LNC time and tasks. However, as the consulting practice grows, eventually the LNC can no longer handle all the tasks necessary to run a successful home-based practice. Time becomes a huge issue. Performing nonbillable administrative, clerical, and marketing tasks soon becomes the
cause of stunted growth. It is at this point that the legal nurse consultant begins to evaluate the need for assistance. When the available time to review cases is compromised by the ability to run the office efficiently, it is appropriate to consider hiring employees. The continued growth of the practice depends on how well and quickly the LNC can work through this crucial issue.
