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Earlier this week, Quinn Emanuel shuttered its New York office after one of the firm’s partners tested positive for coronavirus, enacting a work-from-home policy for all of its attorneys and staff. A day later, Faegre Drinker closed its offices worldwide and enacted a similar policy, if only for a short time, due to a coronavirus scare. All the while, attorneys and staff at other Biglaw firms were left wondering why their firms hadn’t taken any action yet when the technology is available to let them to do their jobs from safe spaces.
As luck would have it, another Biglaw firm has finally decided to allow its lawyers and staff to work from home — and the way they’re doing it is pretty interesting.
Yesterday, Weil Gotshal sent out a memo to let everyone know that the firm’s coronavirus policy had been updated to require mandatory work-from-home sessions on alternating weeks. To accomplish this, the firm will be split into two separate groups, with smaller groups venturing into the office every other week. The firm’s goal here is to minimize the risks of anyone contracting coronavirus through this social distancing program. Weil’s policy will be in effect until further notice.
Here’s an excerpt from the memo, which is available in full on the next page:
Work from Home: Group A & Group B
Effective, Monday, March 16th, the Firm will assign all attorneys and administrative personnel into two groups: Group A and Group B. These groups will alternate working from home on a weekly basis (i.e., Group A will work from home the week of March 16th, Group B will work from home the week of March 23rd, etc.). This is mandatory and may be adjusted as required outside the United States. By Friday, March 13th, assigning partners and/or practice group leaders (for attorneys) and managers/supervisors (for administrative personnel) will inform members of their teams of their respective group assignment.
Any administrative staff member who believes that they cannot perform some or all of their regular job functions from home should consult with their immediate supervisor, who will be managing work flow and may be able to provide alternative projects.
Is Weil simply too big to have all of its personnel work from home at the same time? The firm has more than 1,100 lawyers and an untold number of staff. While this isn’t the perfect solution to the coronavirus exposure problem, at least Weil is doing something about it by offering all of its employees this option.
Congratulations to Weil Gotshal on being one of the first Biglaw firms to offer a way for its employees to continue working while staying safe during a pandemic.
What is your firm doing to protect lawyers and staff from coronavirus? Please text us (646-820-8477) or email us (subject line: “Coronavirus Response”). Stay safe.
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.