In the legal profession, it is generally accepted that certain holidays necessitate time off from work, with Christmas and New Year’s Day being some of the most universally acknowledged examples. Thanksgiving is also widely understood to be a non-working holiday. However, the same cannot be universally said for the day following it, commonly referred to as Black Friday. It is suggested here that – similar to these other key holidays – legal professionals should also have this day off as it is usually filled with personal obligations that make working infeasible.
While many legal professionals have instinctively treated Black Friday as a holiday due to traditional time off, it isn’t universally acknowledged as such. For example, it’s business as usual for many financial institutions and mail carriers on Black Friday. However, concessions for those in the financial industry do exist, such as the stock market operating for only half a day on Black Friday.
The recognition of Black Friday as time off in law firms varies. Some law firms have Black Friday officially, or unofficially, marked as a holiday in their calendars, while others expect normal working hours. Even among firms that recognize Black Friday as a holiday, it isn’t unusual for some lawyers to decide to work. For instance, lawyers facing a high billing requirement may choose to work this day to help meet their annual targets.
Despite this, it’s important to note that law firm leadership should not mandate work on Black Friday barring any pressing matters. With an increasingly blurrier line between personal and professional life in the age of remote work, maintaining an equilibrium has become paramount. Thanksgiving weekend is traditionally spent among family and friends. Requiring individuals travelling for these holiday gatherings to work might not be feasible and certainly won’t foster efficiency.
Another point of contention lies in the scheduling of Black Friday between a national holiday and the following weekend. Allowing employees to take this day as a holiday for a longer stretch of continuous leave can benefit employee satisfaction and reduce the potential stress of immediately returning to work after a family event.
Given the shifting dynamics of work-life balance, adding Black Friday to the acknowledged holidays in law firms could bring welcome relief to legal professionals. Encouraging a healthy work-life balance is increasingly crucial in preserving the mental well-being of staff and maintaining productivity levels.
For the full article written by Jordan Rothman, a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, and founder of Student Debt Diaries, visit Above The Law.