Spotlight on Flex – Cheryl Tedeschi Sloane

The Spotlight on Flex showcases professionals from member organizations who exemplify personal and professional success while working a flexible schedule. Their stories illustrate the long-term benefits that flexible schedules offer to both individuals and organizations.

This month, we are pleased to share insights from Cheryl Tedeschi Sloane, Associate in the Miami office of White & Case LLP.

Cheryl T. SloaneDiversity & Flexibility Alliance: How have you made flexibility a priority and a success with your career?

Cheryl Tedeschi Sloane: I first came to White & Case as a summer associate. Upon graduation, I joined the firm’s financial restructuring group until leaving for a federal clerkship a couple of years later. While exploring post-clerkship opportunities, I ran into a few partners from the firm’s litigation practice and realized that returning as a litigator was the right choice. Eventually I had my first child, and then came my second. I was nine months pregnant when preparing for a two-week jury trial and also co-parenting a toddler with my working husband. It was an intense time. After the trial and the arrival of our second child, I was certain of two things: I loved my job, and I required a new schedule. Because I truly enjoyed the work and the people at White & Case, I decided I had to find out whether I could make the firm’s flexible work policy work for me before exploring any other options. Read more

Action Step – Elements of a Well-Crafted Reduced Hours Policy

The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility.  Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.

ELEMENTS OF A WELL-CRAFTED REDUCED HOURS POLICY

Reduced hours schedules are a critical part of holistic flexibility policies, which recognize that a diverse workforce requires different ways of getting great work done. Yet, reduced hours schedules tend to be the most stigmatized form of flexibility, too often misconstrued to signal a lack of commitment to one’s career. Reduced hours professionals were also once subjected to formal haircuts – that is, being paid less than the time agreed to work (e.g., 60 percent pay for a 75 percent schedule) – and many still do not receive a true-up when they work more than their agreed upon schedule. For these reasons and more, it is important for organizations to send a clear message of support for reduced hours schedules through a well-written policy that addresses the following key areas…
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Filling the Confidence Chasm: Tips for Women for Improving Confidence in the Workplace

With Theresa May moving into 10 Downing Street and Hillary Clinton close to becoming the first woman President of the United States, you’d think that women would be more confident than ever. But as BBC-America anchor Katty Kay puts it, there is still a confidence “chasm” between men and women when it comes to the workplace.

Last week Katty keynoted AARP’s “2016 Women’s Leadership Forum: Cracking the Confidence Code” and shared research and insights from her New York Times best-seller, The Confidence Code, co-authored by Claire Shipman. Manar Morales, Alliance President & CEO, joined a panel of women CEOs to provide her expertise on women’s leadership as well as her personal insights on starting her own company, building her confidence, and achieving her goals. Read more

Your Full-Time Flex Policy: Put it in Writing!

You may ask yourself, “Why would we need a formal full-time flex policy? Our attorneys are professionals and they know when they can come and go and when it’s appropriate to work from home.”

While this may be true in some cases, consider the challenges the firm faces when an attorney telecommutes 5 days a week, without his or her managing partner’s full support. Or what if an attorney is hesitant to work flexibly because he believes it will be held against him when his performance is reviewed? And how will your firm attract new law school graduates if you can’t legitimately state that you have a full-time flexible work policy and you can’t prove how many attorneys use it? Read more

Brown Rudnick LLP Welcomed As Newest Member of the Alliance

We are pleased to welcome Brown Rudnick LLP as the newest member of the Alliance! The firm joins a community of over 55 leading organizations that are implementing innovative solutions to promote inclusive and flexible work cultures.

Brown Rudnick Read more

Spotlight on Flex – Evynn Overton

The Spotlight on Flex showcases professionals from member organizations who exemplify personal and professional success while working a flexible schedule. Their stories illustrate the long-term benefits that flexible schedules offer to both individuals and organizations.

This month, we are pleased to share insights from Evynn Overton, Principal in the Baltimore office of Beveridge & Diamond PC.

Evynn OvertonDiversity & Flexibility Alliance: How have you made flexibility a priority and a success through your schedule?

Evynn Overton: I had my first child during my third year of law school, and I knew heading into the work world I needed and wanted a job with flexibility. I learned I was pregnant while I was a summer associate at Beveridge & Diamond (B&D). When I received my offer, I spoke with the firm and asked if flex options were available as an incoming first year associate. The firm said absolutely; they encouraged and supported my schedule from the very beginning. I started as a reduced hours, first year associate in the fall of 2004 at a 60 percent schedule and was in the office three days a week. Read more

Using Flexibility to Recruit Your Next Generation of Superstars

June 2016

Featuring — Kori Carew, Director of Strategic Diversity Initiatives, Shook, Hardy & Bacon & Kia Scipio, Associate Director, Georgetown University Law Center

We all know students are vying for jobs, but employers are just as competitive with each other to recruit top talent.  The needs and wants of this generation are vastly different than the typical recruit 5-10 years ago.  Research shows flexibility is a key consideration when students and lawyers are choosing their firms (and when they are deciding to leave).  If you don’t have a flex policy, you are missing an easy, effective, and inexpensive way to recruit great lawyers.   If you do have a flex policy, how is it being messaged and translated during the recruitment process (if at all)?  For CSO’s, how do you counsel students on navigating flexibility without stigma from a potential employer?  Hear from both perspectives of the recruitment process and learn how to use flexibility to recruit and retain your next generation of superstars!

Action Step – Teaching Flex Success™

The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility.  Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.

TEACHING FLEX SUCCESS™

Holding everyone within an organization accountable for its flexibility program is critical to its success. Individuals, however, must first know what is expected of them and have the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to carry out those expectations. This is why a robust flex education program for lawyers and other professionals working flexibly, those who supervise them, and all members of an organization is essential. The information conveyed in these programs should be tailored to the needs of each group, covering the following fundamentals…. Read more

How Does Your Flex Policy Stand Up to the Rest of the Industry?

Announcing the Third Annual Law Firm Flexibility Benchmarking Survey

As with any aspect of business, it’s important to track your firm’s progress and know where you stand in the industry when it comes to flexibility. Are you keeping up with your competitors’ flexible work policies?

To help law firms answer this question, the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance created a benchmarking survey two years ago which tracks the availability, usage, and support for flexible work in major law firms in the US. The Third Annual Law Firm Flexibility Benchmarking Survey is now available to law firms in the American Lawyer 200 (AmLaw 200), including Alliance members and non-members. Read more

Upcoming Event -Signature Seminar Series

Flexibility: A Simple But Essential Recruitment Tool

Flexible work options are important to all of us, but when it comes to millennials, flex is essential. In today’s recruitment process, law firms need to understand the importance of having a flex policy and of showing new recruits that flexibility is part of the firm’s culture. Research clearly shows that flexibility is a key consideration when students and lawyers are choosing their firms (and when deciding to leave). Keeping up with the flexibility demands of this generation of law school graduates is an effective and inexpensive way to recruit the best students. Read more