In a statement to the American Lawyer, Neil Barr, chair and managing partner of renowned law firm Davis Polk, recently affirmed the effectiveness of the firm’s mandatory attendance policy. Instituted earlier in the year, the policy requires attorneys to be physically present in the office for four days each week.
While Barr acknowledged that the policy may not be universally popular, he expressed satisfaction at the level of compliance, noting that the “overwhelming majority” of Davis Polk colleagues are adhering to the rule. His comments suggest a belief that the policy is generally beneficial to the firm from an institutional perspective.
“I think our story is essentially over. We were able to look at the data over the course of the year and the overwhelming majority of our colleagues are complying. Sitting here in December, I know not everyone loves it, but from the institution’s perspective, we are in a good spot. The way the business is running, this is what I had hoped would happen,” Barr said in his statement.
Although employee sentiments on the policy have not been provided in significant detail, the reference to understanding that “not everyone loves it” hints at a level of discontent among some staff. Despite this, the apparent high rate of compliance suggests that the mandate is, on the whole, being accepted by the firm’s staff.
Earlier this year, when Davis Polk announced the mandate, they joined a growing list of legal firms and corporations worldwide recognizing the potential benefits of office-based work in a post-pandemic business landscape. For more details on this, see the full report on Above The Law.