While a four-day in-office work week appears to be gaining popularity among some of the most prestigious Biglaw firms, including Skadden, Davis Polk, Weil Gotshal, Ropes & Gray, and Vinson & Elkins, not all firms are eager to make the shift. Indeed, some resistances come from unexpected corners.
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft—a firm that generated a gross revenue of $544,832,000 in 2022, ranking 84th on the recent Am Law 100—has lately issued a company-wide memo detailing its attendance policies. The declaration makes it explicit that they are, at least for the time being, refraining from enforcing a four-day office presence. It has decided to persist with the three-day regime (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) as a requisite for office presence.
Internal sources narrate how partners at the firm had been fervent supporters of a four-day in-office week. However, with the survival of the three-day policy, partners are subtly pushing their fellow workers in other offices to attend, or the firm will invariably transition to a four-day week.
The memo also contains details suggesting that the firm will start monitoring the attendance record, which will be factored into performance evaluations. However, questions remain among the firm’s associates about how exactly this new policy will impact them—will it potentially reduce bonuses? How will it be measured? Possibilities of layoffs owing to non-compliance with the firm’s attendance policy also seem to be looming, adding to the unease.
As the sector navigates these turbulent waters, keeping abreast of your firm’s policy on office attendance is crucial. Feel free to sound off on changes at your firm using your personal email for anonymity. When it comes to understanding the currents shifting under the legal industry’s surface, the more data, the better.