Diversity-and-Flexibility-Alliance-Conference-2018-3

Bright Spots

Celebrating successes to build momentum for future initiatives.

When you’ve worked hard to create an important diversity or flexibility initiative that truly impacts your organization’s bottom line, recruitment and retention capabilities, or employee satisfaction, you should celebrate your Bright Spots.

Bright Spots can be small or large successes that impact your organization in a positive way.

When you share your Bright Spots you’re building momentum for future initiatives and support from your colleagues. The simple act of compiling your successes can help you self-reflect, take stock, and plan future goals.

As a community of organizations dedicated to the evolution of diversity and flexibility in the workplace, we want to share your successes. We also hope to start a “Ripple Effect” so organizations will see positive results elsewhere and implement the same strategies at home.

SUBMIT YOUR BRIGHT SPOT

We encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your successes and celebrate your Bright Spots with us.

Please take 10 minutes to share your Bright Spots with us, and you’ll be entered to win a $50 Starbucks gift card!

Fill out the short submission form and email it to Jane Caldeira. Please make sure you give your form a new “Save As” name.

Download Submission Form

CURRENT BRIGHT SPOT

Bright Spot: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Billable Hours

July 28, 2021

In an effort to inform and inspire our members and friends, we often share diversity and flexibility Bright Spots – those small or large successes that impact an organization in a positive way. We believe that important diversity and flexibility initiatives can truly impact your organization’s bottom line, recruitment and retention capabilities and employee satisfaction.

BRIGHT SPOT – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Billable Hours

Recent Bright Spots in the legal community are new Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Hours Policies implemented by several law firms in which employees can accrue billable hours towards their annual target by participating in efforts that advance DE&I.

Some examples of projects that may qualify for DE&I billable hours include:

Serving in leadership positions on committees or subcommittees related to diversity;
Managing diversity projects;
Presenting materials for use in diversity training or programming;
Attending internal or external diversity trainings;
Participating in affinity group activities; and
Representing the firm at diversity-based job fairs and recruiting events.

IMPACT

We are happy to report that we’ve seen a very positive Ripple Effect to these new policies and many firms are now jumping on the DE&I billable hours bandwagon. Examples of firms that have instituted a DE&I billable hours policy include (but are not limited to): Ogletree Deakins, Davis Wright Tremaine, Cooley and Hogan Lovells, as well as one of the early pioneers of this trend Dorsey & Whitney who implemented their policy in 2019.

It’s important to note that Reed Smith seems to be one of the first firms to extend their policy to its business professionals.

RECENT BRIGHT SPOTS

Bright Spot: Chapman and Cutler’s Virtual Coffee Chats

March 30, 2021

In an effort to inform and inspire our members and friends, we often share diversity and flexibility Bright Spots – those small or large successes that impact an organization in a positive way. We believe that important diversity and flexibility initiatives can truly impact your organization’s bottom line, recruitment and retention capabilities and employee satisfaction.

BRIGHT SPOT – Chapman and Cutler – Virtual Coffee Chats

During the COVID -19 pandemic, many professionals have voiced concerns about the lack of “water cooler moments” with everyone working from home. In particular, some new Associates have found it difficult to network and find firm mentors while working remotely. The Talent Development office at law firm, Chapman and Cutler, came up with a creative, yet simple, solution to this new challenge. By creating a system for Virtual Coffee Chats, Chapman has been able to connect younger Associates with more senior colleagues for casual networking coffees.

The goal of the system was to make it easy for senior Partners to connect with First Year and Summer Associates for a 20-30 minute one-on-one Zoom call. The Zoom scheduling links were created to automatically schedule the coffees and add them to individual calendars. Therefore, no one was overburdened with scheduling the calls and the time commitment was minimal.

As an added incentive the Talent Development Office sent specialty coffees and teas – all provided by black or minority-owned businesses – to encourage participants and create a fun environment. This small incentive provided a very positive impact to firm culture.

IMPACT

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and many Partners and Associates plan to continue these virtual coffees long after the pandemic. Associates have really enjoyed meeting the Senior Partners and learning about best practices and new client projects.

Bright Spot: Katten’s Sabbatical

January 27, 2021

In an effort to inform and inspire our members and friends, we often share diversity and flexibility Bright Spots – those small or large successes that impact an organization in a positive way. We believe that important diversity and flexibility initiatives can truly impact your organization’s bottom line, recruitment and retention capabilities and employee satisfaction.

BRIGHT SPOT: Katten’s Sabbatical Program

Law firm Katten, Muchin Rosenman’s Associate Sabbatical Program is a unique Bright Spot because it offers the firm’s Associates a four-week, paid sabbatical once they have completed their fifth year at the firm. Associates must also meet their hours’ requirement two out of the three previous years to be eligible. The Sabbatical program has been in place since 2001 and allows Associates to take four weeks off for any activity or reason of their choosing. Associates are not required to submit any kind of formal plan for the sabbatical – Associates may take trips, dive into personal projects, extend family leaves, or use the Sabbatical for anything else that they choose.

The most remarkable aspect of Kattan’s Sabbatical program is that virtually ALL (95%) Associates take advantage of this benefit and many plan for the time off long in advance. Katten reports that equal numbers of men and women participate and it is quite unusual not to take advantage of the Sabbatical. This high level of participation demonstrates Katten’s supportive firm culture and a leadership that truly values flexibility and employee wellness. Associates are not afraid of any negative stigma that could be associated with taking time away from the office, and, in fact, participation in this program is encouraged by Partners and other leadership.

The Sabbatical is also available to lateral Associates after they have been with Katten the required five years.

Bright Spot: Kutak Rock’s COVID-19 Response

August 25, 2020

In an effort to inform and inspire our members and friends, we often share diversity and flexibility Bright Spots – those small or large successes that impact an organization in a positive way. We believe that important diversity and flexibility initiatives can truly impact your organization’s bottom line, recruitment and retention capabilities and employee satisfaction.

BRIGHT SPOT

Kutak Rock’s operating procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic are clear Bright Spots that demonstrate its people-first philosophy. Before the COVID-19 National Emergency was declared on March 13, 2020, the firm’s Regional Managing Partner for D.C. and Virginia had begun discussions with firm leadership about operating procedures aimed at keeping people safe at home and working. The procedures, which remain today and apply to all staff and attorneys, allowed for 100% remote working on a “reason-neutral” basis.

Kutak Rock leadership worked with each employee on a case-by-case basis to ensure that everyone continued to be productive and maintain their positions and their employment status while working remotely. The focus continues to be on keeping all employees and offices safe from COVID (first and foremost) and helping every individual become productive in this unique COVID work environment.

The firm also made it a priority to provide several training sessions focused on remote learning, including:

A weekly set of training options about the logistics of remote work (submitting time, setting up a printer, security, etc.);
A seminar attended by over 90% of the firm’s associates focused on ongoing professional development in a remote work environment;
Annual inclusiveness training with information about creating inclusive working teams in remote and hybrid remote/in-person environments; and,
A session with firm leadership with information about building teams in a remote or hybrid remote/in-person environment.

Implement meaningful change within your organization.

Benefits of Membership

Bright Spots

Celebrating successes to build momentum for future initiatives.

SUBMIT YOUR BRIGHT SPOT

CURRENT BRIGHT SPOT

Bright Spot: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Billable Hours

RECENT BRIGHT SPOTS

Bright Spot: Chapman and Cutler’s Virtual Coffee Chats

Bright Spot: Katten’s Sabbatical

Bright Spot: Kutak Rock’s COVID-19 Response

Implement meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s get started…

Get In Touch

Stay Connected