Magic Circle Firm Employing Technology To Make Certain Associates Are In The Office
This is very much the new normal.
Fresh off the news that Slaughter & May is checking up on associates to ensure they’re adhering to the office attendance policy, Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance is being outed for a similar policy. The firm requires an in-office presence 50% of the time — or five days every two weeks — and the firm will be using surveillance to make sure it’s all on the up and up.
As a firm spokesperson told Roll on Friday:
“To help our managers better understand and support their team’s adherence to our hybrid working policy, from 1st February 2024, the firm will start to review data of individual attendance in London and Newcastle.”
The spokeswoman also confirmed that CC is sticking with its flexible working policy: “We regularly review our approach to hybrid working and continue to believe that our current UK policy in of working from the office at least 50% over a two week period is right for our business, our clients and people.”
She added: “We know from our own experience and employee feedback that when consistently applied, our hybrid working policy provides our people a greater opportunity to learn, develop and collaborate with colleagues and clients thereby supporting our growth ambitions and enhancing the culture of the firm.”
I’ve said it before: if your firm has an attendance policy you should ASSUME they’re using whatever technology they have at their disposal to make sure butts are in chairs at the office.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
