In
recognition of the need for some of its attorneys to work fewer
hours to attend to responsibilities outside of work, and to
create a flexible workplace to retain its lawyers, O'Melveny
& Myers LLP provides a progressive reduced workload policy.
O'Melveny has a number of both associates and partners on a
reduced workload. Notably, associates have been promoted to
partner while on a reduced workload. In fact, the 2006 New Partner
class consisted of three such partners. The policy is not limited
to women with child-rearing responsibilities, and in fact, several
men have been successful on a reduced workload for reasons unrelated
to childcare.
To
facilitate integration to the firm, O'Melveny generally requires
its reduced workload lawyers to work for two years with the
firm before going onto a reduced workload schedule. Lawyers
on reduced workload are reviewed annually, in the same way their
full-time counterparts are reviewed. Generally, reduced workload
arrangements are not considered long-term arrangements but the
firm has allowed lawyers to remain on reduced workload for several
years where firm and client needs are being met. The key to
the success of the policy is its inherent flexibility.
O'Melveny
pays its lawyers on reduced workload directly proportionately
to their hours worked. In other words, there is no "haircut."
And if a lawyer works more than his/her reduced workload target,
he/she will be compensated for those additional hours. This
adjustment of pay to reflect actual hours worked is a particularly
progressive feature of O'Melveny's program and one that sets
it apart from many other firms.
Lawyers
on reduced workload are also eligible for a bonus, again without
a haircut, that is directly proportional to the bonus a full-time
associate would earn. Most attorneys on a reduced workload at
O'Melveny work at least 75% or more of a full-time workload.
Attorneys on reduced workload are also requested to participate
in firm "citizenship" activities (e.g., recruiting,
business development, mentoring, etc.)
Lawyers
who work at least 75% of a full workload receive the same benefits
as those that are available to a full-time lawyer. Vacation
time, however, is accrued at the same rate as their reduced
workload -- in other words, an associate on reduced workload
who only worked 75% of a full workload would only accrue 75%
of the vacation time of a full-time associate.
Lawyers
on reduced workload at O'Melveny report that they are very satisfied
with the program and that partner support has been phenomenal.
They experience very little "schedule creep" and are
generally able to stay within 100 hours of their agreed upon
reduced workload target. It is understood that lawyers on reduced
workload take on fewer matters, but are still 100% committed
to those matters on a daily basis. O'Melveny has assigned one
of its Directors in its Talent Development Department to oversee
the program, to field questions from associates, and to ensure
that the policy is consistently applied throughout the firm's
13 offices worldwide.
