Flexible Working Arrangements
Making them possible
Flexible working arrangements have always been seen as somewhat of an Utopia. It is something that so many of us strive for, yet few of us actually have. Or do we?
Traditionally, lawyers have always been expected to clock up 40, 50, 60+ hours in the office. However, we are now witnessing a huge shift away from this model, with many of our clients offering lawyers part-time or working from home arrangements. Not only do these sorts of arrangements benefit the employee, employers are seeing a greater talent pool as more and more lawyers are attracted to part-time hours or alternative arrangements such as working from home or flexible start and finish times.
An opportunity for everyone
Flexible working isn't just about supporting working mums. We are also seeing dads and individuals without children opting for and embracing a true work-life balance.
So, where do you find the roles that offer these kinds of arrangements? For a starter, we can quash the belief that it is only government roles offering the always strived for "work-life balance". We have recently placed a lawyer in a top-tier firm, two others in in-house and another in government; all of whom have secured working arrangements that are outside of the typical 5-day a week in-office role. In fact, many of our clients are increasingly offering these arrangements irrespective of gender, year level or practice area.
A time to compromise
Having said all this, flexible working arrangements are all about give and take. So whilst an employer is willing to offer some flexibility, so must you. Leaving the office at 3pm to do the school run might mean logging on at 8pm to finish off something important; or working 3 days a week may mean monitoring your emails on the days you're not in the office. What works for one individual may not work for another. The key is in taking ownership and making sure that the flexibility is working well for the benefit of your employer, your clients and you as an individual.
I for one, am a huge advocate of flexible working arrangements and experience first-hand how well it can work - for everyone. Before joining Alex Correa Executive, I was fortunate to work for a law firm that allowed me to work 100% from home after the birth of my child. This wasn't something that was automatically given to me, I earnt it by gaining the trust and support of my employers and colleagues after working full time in the office for a number of years. In my current role, we do flexible working arrangements incredibly well. We balance our 'in office' days with our 'work from home' days. I also start early which not only suits our candidates as I can meet them before their working day starts, but in return allows me to be home earlier in the evening to put my 'mum' hat on.
In order for flexible working arrangements to continue to be more of the 'norm', it's important that it's embraced by everyone regardless of gender, partners and staff - both in terms of those that practice flexibility and those who promote it.
At the end of the day, flexible working arrangements aren't elusive. They aren't difficult to achieve and they're not a work in progress. It's far more common than many think and in our view, it's the way employers are best able to attract and retain top talent.
For more advice on managing your people development or recruiting, you can reach us at info@alexcorreaexecutive.com.au.
Some Inspiration from our Friends In Law
If you are looking for inspiration from other lawyers who have had another career outside law, listen to this episode of the Friends In Law podcast where our founder Alex Correa interviews Sarah Frost on flexible working and her new path in the world of consulting.
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