The art and science of cross-border management

Mergers, acquisitions, and even plain expansion means that more practices operate in multiple states. But there are different employment laws in each state, and benefits such as health insurance can vary from market to market. The first step to effective management of staffs across state lines is to work through the maze of legal differences. Then you have to make sure that the benefits you give to all your staff members are roughly equivalent. That may mean phasing out some benefits at one location, or providing completely new ones in another. Once you get through the nitty gritty of legal and benefit analysis, you have to work on remote management issues. It can be difficult to merge the cultures at two practices, and even more difficult to get the new staff to trust you. These issues can often take longer to resolve than the legal ones.