Managing Partner, Matthew Haverstick shared his thoughts on the process of bringing attorneys back to the office. The article notes that while almost all firms have a policy for hybrid work, only about a third apply it and the majority of firms would still like to see more attorneys in office. However, the process continues to be complicated due to concerns, incentives, and lack of uniformity.
Haverstick explains that at Kleinbard, many younger lawyers who live in the city come in four or five days each week, despite the firm only encouraging three days of attendance. Yet, this eagerness of younger attorneys to return to office is somewhat dependent on the office attendance of firm leaders.
“When the younger lawyers don’t see the managing partners and group leaders in the firm, they’re not going to take it as seriously,” he said. “I don’t think leaders need to be bought off to come back into the office. If they’re unwilling to do it, they should reconsider if they want to be leaders.”
Haverstick also weighed in on the effectiveness of incentivizing folks to come into the office.
“I’d like to get to the point where we have evening or happy hour social events inside the firm and people are already there,” Haverstick said. “I’d like to think we can get to a point where people are coming into the office not because lunch is there but because that’s just what they do again.”
Haverstick concludes by championing the option of hybrid work for some employees.
“There are a couple of people who are more productive out of office and who don’t hold leadership roles, who we don’t necessarily mind if they aren’t visible or patrolling the halls,” Haverstick said. “We’re perfectly comfortable with them doing their own thing at home. I think they’ll miss out, but from a productivity standpoint, I can’t argue with the logic of their staying remote.”
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