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Eversheds

Flexible Working

What

This case study outlines Eversheds ’approach to flexible working. It started back in 2001 when the organisation realised that a lack of flexibility in working patterns was a significant contributor to losing talented women before they reached partner level. It was the first law firm to introduce a comprehensive flexible working scheme which it badged ‘Lifestyle’. It included various options such as part time working, job sharing, annualised and monthly hours, self rostered team working, career breaks and sabbaticals. In 2007 the Lifestyle programme was further enhanced to include informal arrangements such as a temporary change to working hours or the option to work from home. The firm strongly believes that for flexible working to be a success it needs much more than just a great policy. It also requires a culture of trust between managers and employees and for performance to be judged on output, not on presenteeism. The Lifestyle scheme complements the firm’s values of teamwork and mutual respect and whole teams as well as individuals can take advantage of it. For example its whole billing team works flexibly so that it can provide a more effective and extended service, which works well within the structure of a global law firm.

Why

Eversheds  has seen its approach to flexible working bring significant benefits  to the firm. It has found that talented people are more likely to stay if they are satisfied with their work-life balance. The ability to work flexibly has also been shown to have a positive impact on an individual’s performance by up to 30%. The cost of training a solicitor is over £100k – therefore if it can save just ten people from leaving the firm a year, it is saving more than £1 million. Its approach to flexible working has enabled it to more effectively react to peaks and troughs in workloads. It has also had a positive environmental impact by helping the firm to significantly lower its carbon footprint.

How

The firm’s investment in technology has made flexible working a realistic option for a significant proportion of its people and has also proven to enhance its service to clients. Over 30% of its employees now have a laptop, most of those also have a 3G card which allows them to work online in any location. 46% of its people have a Blackberry and 25% of its people have the facility to access their office desktop from home. Flexible working is now becoming integral to the firm’s culture, and as more men are taking advantage of it, Eversheds is finding that there is no longer a perception that it is only aimed at women. The firm has an ambition that 50% of its people will benefit from the informal aspects of its Lifestyle arrangements by 2011. Its board has led by example, with members regularly working from home one day a week.

 

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Eversheds

Flexible Working
Contact: Clare Rowe, Diversity & Corporate Responsibility Manager

Email: clarerowe@eversheds.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impact
  • In its latest employee satisfaction survey, 74% of respondents decided with the Statement that ‘the firm is supportive of my needs to balance work and home life’.
  • A good work-life balance reduces stress and therefore related healthcare costs.
  • It now has the highest number of female partners of any of the top ten UK law firms at 23%.