Are you getting the right balance?
Legal employers are finally appreciating the importance of offering their employees a good work-life balance. Results from our research ‘A ticking time-bomb’, reveal that almost two thirds (64%) of all legal employers actively prioritise the issue with their employees; a figure that rises to 79% amongst public sector legal employers. This is highly encouraging considering the legal market has traditionally been characterised by the stereotype of the over-stressed and over-worked lawyer. It suggests that employers are finally listening to their staff and understanding the benefits a good work-life balance brings.
Employees place a huge value on it and it means a more energetic, engaged and productive workforce.
However, pockets remain where work-life balance remains a marginal issue. Six out of ten City law firms we questioned admit that they do what they can, but the nature of the job means that they are unable to make any real impact. The responses reveal an overriding assumption that, particularly in a corporate focused City law firm, achieving a true work-life balance is unachievable if clients are to be kept happy and deadlines met.
Most employers equate work-life balance with flexible working, with 84% offering it to their employees. Even so, the lack of law firms offering flexible working to its employees would suggest employers are not as willing to make life easier. Almost a third (30%) of City law firms do not offer flexible working and an additional 15% only offer it to their top talent.
Alison Burgin, Executive Director, Legal at Badenoch & Clark, comments: “Many employers are now getting the message that work-life balance isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’ part of the employment package. Employees place a huge value on it and, when done correctly, it means a more energetic, engaged and productive workforce.
“The cloud to this silver lining is that parts of the sector are steadfastly refusing to address the issue. What’s more worrying is the reason being given for this – that work-life balance simply isn’t compatible with parts of the legal profession. This needs to be recognised as a major failing and needs to be solved if City law firms are to continue to thrive.
“The danger is that, with many other areas of the industry and the economy at large offering good work-life balance, City law firms will find it increasingly difficult to attract the top talent.”
About the Survey
The research quoted above comes from a Badenoch & Clark report entitled ‘A ticking time-bomb’. It is based on responses received from 900 legal employers and employees, gathered through telephone and face to face interviews. The research covered employees as well as HR, line managers and partners across a broad range of legal sectors and levels of seniority across England and Wales.
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