Kansas Professionals: Learn to Manage Anger or Risk Losing Your License

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The phrase “going postal” has come to mean an individual’s loss of workplace control. Although most professionals are lucky that such extreme expressions of anger are rare, most have had the experience of knowing an angry co-worker or superior. Although anger is a normal human emotion, the expression of this emotion can have a devastating effect on a professional’s career and can even result in the loss of professional’s license. Unfortunately, professionals often do not become aware that they have a problem controlling anger until they have received notice of a complaint from their respective licensing board.

Anger has many degrees from mild—a mere annoyance, to strong—a full blown rage. It is also important to recognize that two people who have problems controlling anger may show anger in completely different manners. One may be a typical “hot head” while another may engage in more passive-aggressive behaviors and seek to undermine those around him or her. Either way, a licensee’s inability to control his or her anger can have numerous unintended consequences at the work place, including but not limited to:

  • Not being invited to participate in meetings or special projects
  • Loss of respect from colleagues
  • Increased turnover of employees
  • Decreased opportunities for advancement
  • Being avoided or not listened to by co-workers/staff
  • Making avoidable mistakes or judgment errors
  • Unhappy customers or patients

The first step in dealing with anger issues is to learn to determine the true cause of the anger. Although this may seem fairly straight-forward, many angry licensees do not know why they are experiencing anger. Frustrations that at first glance may seem work-related may not have anything to do with work. For example, anger related to personal and/or financial problems can unexpectedly surface at work. Divorce or the unexpected loss of a loved one are events that can often spill over into one’s professional life. For some, just learning the cause of the anger can make the anger easier to manage.

Once you are aware of the cause of anger, the next step is to learn how to manage those feelings. A healthy way to express anger is to do so in an assertive, but non-aggressive manner. Learning how to express your feelings and needs in a way that is respectful of yourself and others is not only a skill that is necessary in the workplace but will also serve a licensee in all aspects of career and life. If you believe you have problems controlling your anger and believe that anger is affecting your career, it is wise to speak with a counselor.

If you received notice from your licensing board that a complaint has been filed against you, contact the Sanger Law Office. At the Sanger Law Office, we will take the time to listen to you and determine the best strategy to protect your livelihood and your reputation. Do not delay contacting the Sanger Law today today at 785-979-4353 to schedule your free and completely confidential consultation.

Kansas Social Workers: Seven Mistakes That Could You Your License

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If you ask a licensee why he or she decided to become a social worker, the most common reply is often the desire to help others. Social workers, by their very nature, are caring individuals who have spent countless hours between their education and training to be able to help clients grow and improve their life situations. However, one misstep can not only land a licensee in hot water with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board but can also subject a license to possible criminal charges. The following are some of the most common “sin”s licensees commit:

  1. Failure to Complete Renewal/Application Requirements: A simple way to avoid problems with the Board is to make sure that you have met all requirements for renewing and maintaining your license. This includes paying all fees and completing all required continuing education classes.
  2. Practicing without a License: A licensee who fails to renew his or her license on a timely basis risks having the license expire. A licensee who continues to engage in the profession on an expired license risks discipline for practicing without a license.
  3. Fraud in Obtaining License: A social worker is a position that is based on trust and integrity. Misrepresenting information on an application for licensure or using fraud or bribery to obtain a license is grounds for discipline. If you are in the process of applying for a license and unsure if you need to disclose sensitive information, make an appointment to speak with a professional license defense attorney.
  4. Sharing Client Confidences: Revealing a client’s secrets or any information that the client shared with you violates a social worker’s professional ethics and can expose you up to disciplinary actions by the Board. Licensees also need to be aware of their obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
  5. Improper Physical Contact with a Client: Social workers, like other therapists and health care workers, share close contacts with clients. Licensees who engage in physical intimacies with a client or make sexual advances towards a client, not only blur the lines of professional integrity but also place their license in serious jeopardy.
  6. Improper Treatment of a Client: Maltreatment of a client, student or subordinate by a licensee is considered unprofessional conduct. A license is prohibited from discriminating against a client on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, disability, or national origin.
  7. Conviction of a Felony: A licensee who receives a felony conviction is at serious risk of having his or her license suspended or revoked. It is important to make note that in Kansas, a third DUI conviction is considered a felony if the second conviction occurred within the previous 10 years.

If you are a licensed social worker who has received notice of an investigation by the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, you need an experienced license defense attorney on your side. The Sanger Law Office focuses its practice on defending professionals whose licenses have come under attack. Attorney Danielle Sanger understands that disciplinary matters can affect a licensee’s livelihood and reputation and will thusly make it her priority to bring your matter to a quick resolution.  We invite you to call us today 785-979-4353 to schedule your free and completely confidential consultation.

Kansas Certified Public Accountants: Tips for Avoiding Disciplinary Actions

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The Kansas Board of Accountancy is the state agency that licenses certified public accountants (CPAs). In addition to its powers to suspend or revoke a license, the Board can take other disciplinary actions, including but not limited to censure, ordering payment of fines and mandating completion of remedial or ethics-based classes. CPAs who do not adhere to the profession’s high ethical and professional standards, jeopardize not only their license but also their livelihood. Some of the most common sins that have led a licensee to disciplinary action include the following:

  1. Criminal Conviction: A licensee who receives a felony conviction is subject to discipline, regardless if the crime was related to his or her job duties. In Kansas, a third DUI conviction, if the second occurred within the previous 10 years, is considered a felony. The conviction of any crime which involves an element of dishonesty or fraud is grounds for disciplinary action as well.
  1. Failure to File Tax Returns: All licensees must file personal and business (firm) tax returns in a timely fashion, including payment of all taxes.
  1. Failure to Meet Licensing Renewal Requirements: Failing to meet licensing renewal requirements is a quick way to find oneself in hot water with the Board. Each year licensees are disciplined for failing to complete the mandatory continuing education classes and other basic requirements for license renewal. Allowing one’s license to lapse can also lead to disciplinary action for false advertising—since the licensee’s license has expired.
  1. Deceptive Advertising Practices: False or deceptive advertising in promoting or marketing a licensee’s professional services is considered an act that discredits the profession and, therefore, subject to disciplinary measures.
  1. Discipline from Government Agency: A licensee who is disciplined by a government agency, for example the SEC, is often subjected to additional disciplinary measures by their state licensing Board.
  1. Fraud in Obtaining a License: The use of fraud, dishonesty or deceit to obtain or renew a license can not only subject a licensee to disciplinary action by the Board, it can also lead to criminal charges.
  1. Failing to Cooperate with Board’s Investigation: Each year, across the country, licensees lose their license for failing to cooperate with a regulatory board’s investigation. In Kansas, ignoring requests for documents and other inquiries by the Board is grounds for discipline. This is why is it is critically important to have an experienced license defense attorney working for you.

If you have received notice from the Kansas Board of Accountancy that you are the subject of an investigation, contact the Sanger Law Office today at 785-979-4353 to schedule a free and completely confidential consultation. In order to protect your livelihood and reputation, you need an experienced professional license defense attorney by your side. Attorney Danielle Sanger and the seasoned professionals at the Sanger Law Office will make it their priority to bring your case to a prompt resolution.

Seven Ways Kansas Technical Professionals Can Endanger their Licenses

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The Kansas State Board of Technical Professions is the governing agency for engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, geology and surveying professionals.  Specifically, the Board has the power to suspend or revoke a technical professional’s license, or take other disciplinary actions.  However, some licensees are not aware of the mistakes that could place their licenses, and their jobs, in jeopardy. The following are seven of the most common errors that can land a technical professional in hot water with the Board:

  1. Non-Authorized Use of Signature or Seal: A licensee cannot affix his or her signature or seal to any documents, reports, records or other papers that were not personally prepared by the licensee or under the licensee’s direct control and supervision. A licensee who sells a signature or seal not only risks losing his or her license, but risks criminal charges as well.
  1. Felony conviction:  Many licensees are not aware that a felony conviction is considered unprofessional conduct and can lead to a loss of license. Regardless of whether the act that lead to the conviction was related to the licensee’s professional duties. Be aware that in Kansas, a third DUI conviction is a felony if the second conviction was in the 10 years prior to the third conviction.
  1. Incompetence: If the investigation of a project failure concludes that the cause of the failure was due to a licensee’s gross incompetence, the licensee could lose his or her license. In some instances, the Board may require that a licensee whose competence is at issue, pass an appropriate examination.
  1. Improper Advertising: A licensee cannot advertise services in a technical professional field unless he or she is qualified by education and experience and licensed in that particular field.
  1. Performing Services Without a License: Technical professionals are often licensed in more than one state. A licensee can jeopardize his or license if he or she performs services in a state in which he or she is not licensed. In some instances, the licensee is not only subject to discipline and possible criminal charges in that state but also in the state(s) in which he or she is licensed.
  1. Fraud in Obtaining a License: An applicant for a license must be truthful and forthright in his or her efforts to obtain a license. Misrepresentation or deceit in the application can lead to serious problems.
  1. Failure to Meet Licensing Renewal Requirements: One of the easiest ways for a licensee to remain in good standing with the Kansas State Board is to meet all licensing requirements, including timely payment of fees and completion of the requisite number of continuing education classes.

If you received notice from the Kansas State Board of Technical Professions that a complaint has been filed against you, do not delay in seeking legal help.  Contact the Sanger Law Office today at 785-979-4353 to schedule a free and completely confidential consultation. The Sanger Law Office has the experience handling professional license defense matters that you need to protect your livelihood and reputation. Trust the Sanger Law Office to provide you with exceptional legal services.