Action Step – Don’t Overlook Overwork: Why and How to Compensate Reduced Hours Lawyers for Extra Work

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. 

DON’T OVERLOOK OVERWORK:
WHY AND HOW TO COMPENSATE REDUCED HOURS LAWYERS FOR EXTRA WORK

It’s becoming increasingly dangerous for legal employers to overlook overwork by reduced hours lawyers. Issues of retention and competition for legal talent, which are always of concern, are taking on greater importance now that more firms are competing in the hot lateral market with effective work-life control programs and “new model” legal services providers are attracting lawyers who want to work fewer hours. A more serious threat looms, however: equal pay claims.

Legal employers have provided extra compensation using a variety of methods. Some examples are…

Read more

Spotlight on Flex – Lori Mihalich-Levin

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 Lori Mihalich-Levin, Partner in the Washington, DC office of Dentons.

Lori Mihalich-Levin

Diversity & Flexibility Alliance: How have you made flexibility a priority and a success through your career?

Lori Mihalich-Levin: Prior to joining Dentons, I was a Director at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). While there, I had my second child, and I quickly realized, like all new parents, that 1 + 1 suddenly equaled 85. I was being pulled in so many different directions, especially as I was preparing to return to work. I wanted and needed something that could help guide new mothers through this journey, and that’s what inspired me to start a new parents group at my office and a program called Mindful Return. I wanted to create a resource to help other moms with their maternity leaves and return to work transitions.

I was already telecommuting one day a week, and as Mindful Return started to grow, I realized I needed more flexibility to focus on work and develop the company. I wanted to be able to use my Fridays to work on Mindful Return, and I started to look at returning to private practice at a reduced hours schedule in order to do so. I knew it was going to be tough to find the perfect fit – I had no book of business at the time, wanted to come in with a reduced hours schedule, and the firm had to have a great health care practice.

Dentons checked every box. The firm was very familiar with the success of flex schedules, and more importantly, understood that people working flex had the same high-quality work as their full-time counterparts. In fact, during the interview process, I debated whether to ask to come in at the counsel or partner level. The more I thought about it, I saw no reason why I shouldn’t ask to join as a lateral partner. It was very indicative that from the beginning, Dentons not only supported my request, but was excited to meet it too. I joined the Health Care practice group a year and a half ago, as a partner, and at a 60 percent reduced hours schedule. I’m in the office Monday through Thursday, and I typically leave around 4:30 pm. I’m off on Fridays, but if a client issue or other business obligation comes up on a Friday, then I’m available. This experience reaffirmed for me that you have to ask for what you want. If you don’t, you’ll never know what’s available to you.

Read more

KPMG Global Chairman to Deliver Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Keynote

Conference To Highlight the Evolving Culture of Flexibility & Diversity

WASHINGTON, DC, February 27, 2017 — The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance has announced that KPMG Global Chairman John Veihmeyer will deliver the keynote address at its annual conference, Diversity + Flexibility = An Evolving Culture, in Washington, DC on March 16, 2017. The one-day conference will also feature executives from Verizon, Booz Allen Hamilton, Walmart, Morgan Stanley, and several prominent law firms who will share their best practices for embracing diversity and flexibility and the value they bring to their organizations. Human Resources executives, Diversity & Inclusion professionals, management, and anyone interested in learning more about the benefits of diversity and flexibility are invited to attend. More information and registration details can be found here.

“Our annual conference brings together professionals from the legal, corporate, financial, and consulting industries who share advice on flexibility and diversity initiatives,” said Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “We are proud to welcome John Veihmeyer and other leaders who are trendsetters in diversity and flexibility and are integral to this evolution of cultural change in the workplace.”

Read more

Diversity & Flexibility Alliance To Recognize Booz Allen Hamilton Executive As Flex Leader

Award to be Presented at Annual Conference

WASHINGTON, DC, February 27, 2017 — The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”) today announced that Nancy Laben, Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary and Executive Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton will receive its 2017 Flex Leader Award. The Flex Leader Award recognizes an executive who is moving his or her organization toward a more inclusive workplace through holistic flexibility. The Award will be presented on March 16, 2017 at the Alliance’s annual conference, Diversity + Flexibility = An Evolving Culture, in Washington, DC. Registration is available here.

“We are proud to honor Nancy Laben as our 2017 Flex Leader for her tireless efforts to create a culture that truly supports flexible work at Booz Allen Hamilton,” said Manar Morales, President and CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “Nancy clearly leads by example as she works remotely, finds time for family, and has relocated to an office closer to her home to reduce commute time. More importantly, she offers her team the same opportunities to find balance in their schedules.”

Ms. Laben has been a strong supporter of a Booz Allen Hamilton program created to provide employees with greater flexibility in where, when, and how they work. The program was initiated about six years ago in response to the high level of traffic congestion in the Washington, DC area, combined with the desire to recruit and retain the best talent. Workspaces were redesigned to be a more collaborative space and employees are encouraged to limit their commute time and work from an office close to their homes when their client work allows. Flexible work schedules are encouraged, and it is a cultural norm in which flexible schedules are supported and not a detriment to employees’ careers.

Read more

Law Firm Partners Recognized For Remarkable Success While Working Flexible Schedules

Diversity & Flexibility Alliance to Present 2017 Flex Success™ Awards at Annual Conference

WASHINGTON, DC, February 27, 2017 — The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance announced its 2017 Flex Success™ Award Honorees: Felicia Gerber Perlman, Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and her client Charles Baker, Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Ball Corporation; and Phyllis Wan, Partner at Hogan Lovells US LLP and her client Carol McDaniel, Vice President of Administration and Operations at AXS TV LLC & HDNet Movies LLC.

The Flex Success™ Award recognizes partners at Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”) member organizations who have achieved a high level of success while working a reduced hours schedule as well as a client who has been integral to making workplace flexibility so successful. The Awards will be presented on March 16, 2017 at the Alliance’s annual conference, Diversity + Flexibility = An Evolving Culture, in Washington, DC. Registration is available here.

“With support from their clients and firms, these two extraordinary attorneys are excelling in their careers, contributing to the success of their colleagues, and giving back to their communities, all while making time for their families and personal pursuits,” said Manar Morales, President and CEO of the Alliance. “It’s so important to celebrate these success stories and applaud the partners and clients who are successfully leading the cultural transformation of the industry.”

Read more

Diversity & Flexibility Alliance To Present Inaugural Flex Impact Awards

Hogan Lovells, Winston & Strawn Recognized for Impactful Flexibility Innovations

WASHINGTON, DC, February 27, 2017 — The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”) has announced it will present its inaugural Flex Impact Awards to law firms, Hogan Lovells US LLP, for its Agile Working Initiative, and Winston & Strawn LLP, for its new gender-neutral Parental Leave Policy.

The Flex Impact Award recognizes policies or initiatives that are poised to have a significant impact on the culture of flexibility in an organization or industry through positive change in the workplace, the success of the business, and/or the recruitment and retention of talent. The Awards will be received by Eve Howard, Regional Managing Partner for Hogan Lovells’ Washington, D.C. Region, and Linda Coberly, Managing Partner of Winston & Strawn’s Chicago office, at the Alliance’s annual conference, Diversity + Flexibility = An Evolving Culture, on March 16 in Washington, DC. Both award recipients will sit on the panel, “Cultural Innovations with Impact” and describe their firms’ initiatives, including the research, implementation, challenges and outcomes. Registration for the conference is available here.

“These initiatives not only benefit the firms where they are implemented, but they will truly impact the entire industry,” said Manar Morales, President and CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “These firms are pioneering new approaches to flexibility, and in so doing, enhancing the well-being of their employees, improving the recruitment and retention of talent, and boosting their business success.”

Read more

Dickinson Wright PLLC Welcomed As Newest Member of the Alliance

We are pleased to welcome Dickinson Wright PLLC 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.

Dickinson Wright

Read more

Don’t Miss Keynote John Veihmeyer’s Insights on KPMG’s Diversity & Inclusion Evolution

Our 2017 Annual Conference on March 16 is titled “Diversity + Flexibility = An Evolving Culture.” This cultural evolution would not be occurring without industry leaders who are committed to creating inclusive workplace
cultures and diverse teams. These leaders understand that in 2017 the only way to recruit and retain top talent and to thrive as a business is to embrace diversity and inclusion. They aren’t simply creating policies and hoping they stick, they’re weaving diversity and inclusion into the fabric of their organizations. They’re creating unbiased cultures where their employees, clients, and businesses are thriving. We are proud to have one oJohn Veihmeyerf these trailblazers as our keynote speaker on March 16, John Veihmeyer, Global Chairman of KPMG.

At the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance, we advise our members that the key to successful cultural change is authentic support and communication from the top of any organization. With Mr. Veihmeyer’s unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion, it’s clear that he has driven the cultural evolution at KPMG. In his 35 years in the business, Mr. Veihmeyer has not only built a reputation as an influential voice on business and financial issues, but he has been recognized countless times for his genuine dedication to philanthropy, diversity, and inclusion. With diversity and inclusion at the core of the KPMG culture, he has created a high-performing work environment where employees are dedicated, successful, and fulfilled.

We are honored to have Mr. Veihmeyer as our keynote and we hope you’ll join us on March 16 to hear how this inspirational, influential, and deeply committed leader has successfully steered the culture of his firm.

Read more

Is Your Recruitment Process Biased?

Most well-intentioned firms and corporations understand the value in hiring a diverse team and believe that their recruitment process is transparent and impartial. With the premise of equal opportunity, you hire the candidates who are the most intelligent, most successful, and most hard-working.

The featured speaker at our 2017 Annual Conference on March 16 might disagree. Kellogg School of Management Professor Lauren Rivera spent years going inside the recruiting process at top investment banks, law firms, and consulting firms. She conducted countless interviews and observed hiring practices first-hand. Her book, “Pedigree: How Elite Students Get Elite Jobs” provides an insider’s view of how some firms hire for their most elite entry-level positions. She found that in many cases it is the affluent applicants from the elite schools who are receiving the top-paying offers at leading firms.

Lauren’s insights could help firms and corporations improve their recruiting processes and hire a more successful and diverse team. Her intriguing research into unconscious class, gender, cultural, and racial bias is truly eye opening and will inspire you to look at your organization’s recruiting process with a different lens.

Read more

Creating A Road Map For A Holistic Flex Policy

February 2017

A successful flexible work program requires strong buy-in, thoughtful implementation, and regular monitoring. It also needs to be adaptable – evolving with the organization as the employees’ needs and clients change. While many professional service organizations have flexibility policies on the books, providing flexible work options without stigma remains a challenge. There has to be a clear understanding of why flexibility is a business imperative and how to make it work for all parties.  Whether your organization needs to create a flexibility program from scratch, expand its existing program, or pinpoint issues within the current program, Manar Morales, the Alliance’s President & CEO, will discuss and guide members through a road map for developing and supporting a successful flexible work program to achieve your organization’s flex objectives.