Progressive Parental Leave and Flexible Work Programs Becoming a Major Industry Priority
Washington, DC – February 26, 2020 – The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance announced today that the results of its 2019 Law Firm Flexibility Benchmarking Study show that the industry is making measurable improvements to the quality and breadth of its parental leave and flexible work policies.
This study consisted of one-on-one interviews with leaders and talent professionals from 50 major law firms and serves to provide multilayered trends, insights and data about successes and challenges with parental leave and flexible work programs and practices. The goal of the initiative is to examine the availability and accessibility of holistic flexible work and parental leave policies, in particular, the types of policies, the features of these policies, and the support/resources around these policies.
The study found that virtually all firms interviewed have continued to offer formal gender-neutral leave and flexibility to attorneys, and many also offer on-ramping (gradual return-to-work) programs to attorneys returning from parental leave. Additionally, a significant number of firms are demonstrating a strong commitment to these policies by removing caregiver designations, increasing the amount of paid leave time generally, and offering fully-paid on-ramping.
However, the study also found that more firms need to provide better support structures around flexible work programs in order to promote better usage, true acceptance and accessibility for all. More firms should focus on offering education around flexible work, flexible work affinity groups, true-up policies to compensate reduced hours lawyers who work more than their agreed upon schedule, and more comprehensive and consistent monitoring mechanisms. Additionally, the study revealed that there is a substantial, qualitative gap between staff and attorney parental leave and flexible work programs.
“We are cautiously optimistic that the majority of firms are beginning to understand that by making minor adjustments to their leave and flexible working policies they can reap major benefits and meet the needs of a new generation,” said Manar Morales,
https://dfalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2019-benchmark-study-cover.jpg9231200dfalliancehttps://dfalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Diversity-and-Flexibility-Alliance-Logo-260.pngdfalliance2020-02-26 15:19:122020-02-26 15:28:56New Study Shows Law Firms Making Promising Improvements to Parental Leave and Flexible Work Policies
Washington, DC – November 8, 2019 – Yesterday, during the Diversity and Flexibility Alliance’s Annual Conference, fifty-one law firms were recognized for having 50% or more women in their 2019 U.S.-based new partner class. The firms, recognized as “Tipping the Scales,” were identified through the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s New Partner Report, a compilation of public data and self-reported sources released each year for the past eight years. The Report revealed that 41.3 percent of new partners in 138 major U.S. law firms in 2019 were women, surpassing last year’s mark by 2.4 percentage points. The Executive Summary is publicly available here.
PHOTO: Representatives from major law firms pose with Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance, after receiving their “Tipping the Scales” Recognition at the Alliance’s 2019 Annual Conference in Washington, DC on November 7, 2019. Photo Credit: Birch Thomas (photosbybirch.com).
The “Tipping the Scales” firms recognized for having 50% or more women in their 2019 new partner class included:
https://dfalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Tipping-the-Scale-Group-Shot.jpg12811920dfalliancehttps://dfalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Diversity-and-Flexibility-Alliance-Logo-260.pngdfalliance2019-11-08 13:50:362019-12-02 17:35:3451 Law Firms Recognized for “Tipping the Scales” on Women in New Partner Class
AARP’s Jo Ann Jenkins to Receive Diversity Luminary Award
Washington, DC – October 1, 2019 – The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance will hold its Annual Conference, Inspire. Innovate. Ignite! on Thursday, November 7 in Washington, DC. This interactive, one-day event is widely known as one of the DC area’s largest gatherings of prominent leaders committed to improving diversity and inclusion, as well as workplace flexibility and leave policies. Registration is open to non-members and more information is available here.
“Our conference is designed to provide executives with everything they need to incorporate diversity and flexible working programs into their organizational culture,” said Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “Attendees will be inspired by our impressive line-up of speakers and diversity visionaries, they’ll hear about the latest trends in flexible working and leave policies, and they’ll connect with a community of senior leaders passionate about diversity and inclusion efforts,” she added. “By attending our one-day conference, attendees will be equipped to transform their workplaces and meet the needs of the 2020 workforce.”
Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO of AARP will receive the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s inaugural Luminary Award which honors a global thought leader who is consistently and uniquely devoted to the advancement of diversity and who’s vision is leaving a lasting legacy of inclusivity for future leaders. Ms. Jenkins will also present this year’s keynote and will share her unique perspective on the value that diversity brings to the culture and success of her organization and the workplace in general.
“I’m honored to receive this award because it reflects my belief that great leaders will emerge from creating workplaces where diverse voices thrive and are provided the opportunity to be taken seriously from the outset,” said Jo Ann Jenkins,
https://dfalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/J.Jenkins-Headshot-Small-1.jpg466300dfalliancehttps://dfalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Diversity-and-Flexibility-Alliance-Logo-260.pngdfalliance2019-10-01 09:18:312019-10-01 09:29:43Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Conference to Address Transforming Workplaces & Meeting the Needs of the 2020 Workforce
New Study Shows Law Firms Making Promising Improvements to Parental Leave and Flexible Work Policies
Progressive Parental Leave and Flexible Work Programs Becoming a Major Industry Priority
Washington, DC – February 26, 2020 – The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance announced today that the results of its 2019 Law Firm Flexibility Benchmarking Study show that the industry is making measurable improvements to the quality and breadth of its parental leave and flexible work policies.
This study consisted of one-on-one interviews with leaders and talent professionals from 50 major law firms and serves to provide multilayered trends, insights and data about successes and challenges with parental leave and flexible work programs and practices. The goal of the initiative is to examine the availability and accessibility of holistic flexible work and parental leave policies, in particular, the types of policies, the features of these policies, and the support/resources around these policies.
The study found that virtually all firms interviewed have continued to offer formal gender-neutral leave and flexibility to attorneys, and many also offer on-ramping (gradual return-to-work) programs to attorneys returning from parental leave. Additionally, a significant number of firms are demonstrating a strong commitment to these policies by removing caregiver designations, increasing the amount of paid leave time generally, and offering fully-paid on-ramping.
However, the study also found that more firms need to provide better support structures around flexible work programs in order to promote better usage, true acceptance and accessibility for all. More firms should focus on offering education around flexible work, flexible work affinity groups, true-up policies to compensate reduced hours lawyers who work more than their agreed upon schedule, and more comprehensive and consistent monitoring mechanisms. Additionally, the study revealed that there is a substantial, qualitative gap between staff and attorney parental leave and flexible work programs.
“We are cautiously optimistic that the majority of firms are beginning to understand that by making minor adjustments to their leave and flexible working policies they can reap major benefits and meet the needs of a new generation,” said Manar Morales,
51 Law Firms Recognized for “Tipping the Scales” on Women in New Partner Class
2019 New Partner Report Released
Washington, DC – November 8, 2019 – Yesterday, during the Diversity and Flexibility Alliance’s Annual Conference, fifty-one law firms were recognized for having 50% or more women in their 2019 U.S.-based new partner class. The firms, recognized as “Tipping the Scales,” were identified through the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s New Partner Report, a compilation of public data and self-reported sources released each year for the past eight years. The Report revealed that 41.3 percent of new partners in 138 major U.S. law firms in 2019 were women, surpassing last year’s mark by 2.4 percentage points. The Executive Summary is publicly available here.
PHOTO: Representatives from major law firms pose with Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance, after receiving their “Tipping the Scales” Recognition at the Alliance’s 2019 Annual Conference in Washington, DC on November 7, 2019. Photo Credit: Birch Thomas (photosbybirch.com).
The “Tipping the Scales” firms recognized for having 50% or more women in their 2019 new partner class included:
1. Akerman
2. Alston & Bird
3. Arent Fox
4. Arnold & Porter
5. Ballard Spahr
6. Boies Schiller Flexner
7. Bracewell
8. Cahill Gordon & Reindel
9. Cravath, Swaine & Moore
10. Crowell & Moring
11. Davis Polk & Wardwell
12. Davis Wright Tremaine
13. Debevoise & Plimpton
14. Dentons
15. Dickinson Wright
16. Drinker Biddle & Reath
17. Duane Morris
18. Epstein Becker & Green
Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Conference to Address Transforming Workplaces & Meeting the Needs of the 2020 Workforce
AARP’s Jo Ann Jenkins to Receive Diversity Luminary Award
Washington, DC – October 1, 2019 – The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance will hold its Annual Conference, Inspire. Innovate. Ignite! on Thursday, November 7 in Washington, DC. This interactive, one-day event is widely known as one of the DC area’s largest gatherings of prominent leaders committed to improving diversity and inclusion, as well as workplace flexibility and leave policies. Registration is open to non-members and more information is available here.
“Our conference is designed to provide executives with everything they need to incorporate diversity and flexible working programs into their organizational culture,” said Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “Attendees will be inspired by our impressive line-up of speakers and diversity visionaries, they’ll hear about the latest trends in flexible working and leave policies, and they’ll connect with a community of senior leaders passionate about diversity and inclusion efforts,” she added. “By attending our one-day conference, attendees will be equipped to transform their workplaces and meet the needs of the 2020 workforce.”
Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO of AARP will receive the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s inaugural Luminary Award which honors a global thought leader who is consistently and uniquely devoted to the advancement of diversity and who’s vision is leaving a lasting legacy of inclusivity for future leaders. Ms. Jenkins will also present this year’s keynote and will share her unique perspective on the value that diversity brings to the culture and success of her organization and the workplace in general.
“I’m honored to receive this award because it reflects my belief that great leaders will emerge from creating workplaces where diverse voices thrive and are provided the opportunity to be taken seriously from the outset,” said Jo Ann Jenkins,