In the Before Times, parties were held in person.
Numerous law firms, like many other organizations, are trying to keep their employees connected to one another during the pandemic even though most people are currently working remotely. This often includes regular conference calls to discuss firm matters and emails which ensure that everyone on a team is on the same page when it comes to serving clients. Many law firms are also hosting virtual happy hours and other online social events in order to connect employees to law firms on a more meaningful level and try to somewhat substitute for the social interaction people have in an office. Although many of us are experiencing “Zoom fatigue” and may be getting tired of all the online networking all of us have to endure, such virtual happy hours are a great idea and should be embraced by more law firms.
As many readers of this column already know, I run a law firm with my brother, so we do not really have a need to host virtual happy hours. The closest thing we have is when I FaceTime my partner/brother so I can goof around with my nieces! As a result, I am relying on second-hand information about law firm virtual happy hours and how they are being received by associates and staff at law firms.
However, earlier in my career, I did experience a time when my employer’s office was shut down and my colleagues and I were forced to collaborate and connect remotely. In the fall of 2012, I worked at a law firm that was impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Our building was flooded, and the office did not have electricity for several weeks. As a result, all of my colleagues and I had to perform work remotely and connect through virtual means.
During this time, it was really important for me to have a connection to my law firm even though I could not be present in the office each day. When I performed work every morning, I drank coffee out of a firm-branded coffee mug just like I did at the office so that I felt a connection to my firm even though I was working remotely. I also made sure to connect with coworkers through group texts, Google Chat, and other methods. We did not have firm happy hours since we were only out of the office for several weeks, but we did have conference calls regularly so that everyone could get on the same page and connect with members of the law firm community.
Law firm virtual happy hours are an important part of maintaining connections to a law firm in alternative ways to meet the challenges of COVID-19. Such events allow lawyers and staff at an office to see other members of their team and know that they are still connected to an employer and have a common purpose. Of course, it is sometimes difficult for people to actively engage with other coworkers at virtual happy hours, especially if there are many people on the call. However, just like firm social events are an important part of the culture of the firm to forge a deeper connection among coworkers, virtual happy hours are also critical to connecting people at a firm.
Naturally, people have numerous reasons to kvetch about needing to participate in law firm virtual happy hours. For one, people often need to dress up a little for virtual happy hours, which is a huge ask these days since people usually complete work while dressed very casually at home. Also, people usually need to tidy up around their home in order to prepare to be seen on camera. Moreover, individuals often need to take steps to ensure that they are not interrupted during a call because children, significant others, and different members of a household can interfere with a call. However, these disruptions are a small price to pay in order to participate in a virtual happy hour.
Some of my friends who attend law firm virtual happy hours convey that such occasions may be a little awkward, and that they do not want to be put in a spotlight during such an event. In addition, people generally have “Zoom fatigue” these days, and don’t like to be subject to more virtual interactions than absolutely necessary. I definitely fall into this camp, and virtual events often remind me of the extraordinary times we are experiencing and how much I wish the pandemic would end so people can meet in person again.
However, everyone is dealing with unprecedented circumstances, and now, more than ever, it is important for people to know that they are part of a work community. It is difficult for law firms to connect with employees on a deeper level in the current environment, and virtual happy hours are a great resource for building culture at a law firm. As a result, stakeholders should be more open to participating in virtual happy hours, and more shops should host virtual social events for employees.
Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothmanlawyer.com.