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Exploring the changes that are coming to Australian law firm workplaces in 2021
COVID-19 has disrupted the world of work and 2021 has more in store, writes Matt Seadon.
Matt Seadon
Social distancing, remote working, A, B and C teams… the pandemic of the century has up-ended societies and economies, here in Australia and around the globe, and forced law firms to innovate, pivot and restructure, in response to fast-changing market conditions.
Unblurring the line between home and work
Thousands of enterprises responded to the 2020 shutdowns swiftly and smartly, by rolling out work-from-home arrangements for large swathes of their workforces. Some did so without having remote working policies in place and laissez-faire arrangements have persisted.
They’re unlikely to do so for much longer, as companies refine their post-COVID operating models and determine the blend of home and office-based working that best suits their organisations long-term.
The upcoming year is likely to see law firm employees and leaders coming together to negotiate arrangements that recognise and respect the boundaries between personal and work time, for team members who elect to remain on the job at home.
Establishing productivity targets – and measuring the results
One of the key concerns for business leaders with sending their teams home to work in 2020 was just how much work those teams would actually complete. Whether their bosses might think they were slacking off was also a source of anxiety for many diligent home-working newbies.
It’s a situation that can only be resolved by setting clear expectations on deliverables and conducting daily or weekly check-ins to see that they’re being met.
This year will see law firms investing in tools and training to help their leaders do so clearly and effectively.
Renewed focus on wellbeing
The past year has been a tough one for everyone. Many legal businesses have found that adversity – to their pleasant surprise – has brought out the best in their teams, with employees working double shift and doing whatever it takes to help keep them afloat.
But uncertainty and stress over a prolonged period have taken their toll in many workplaces and employee burnout may become an increasing issue in 2021. Sensible employers will take steps to head it off, by investing in the physical and mental wellbeing of their teams.
Monitoring workloads, providing employees with the resources they need to complete assignments, encouraging them to exercise and practise mindfulness are some of the ways we’ll see forward-thinking leaders supporting their people and building more resilient, productive workforces in the process.
Surging social engagement
For Australians, the workplace isn’t just where they go to earn a living. It’s also an important source of social and emotional connections. Months of social distancing and shutdowns have left many workers feeling isolated and that spells bad news for morale and productivity.
That’s why companies that haven’t already done so are likely to step up their efforts to create opportunities for employees to interact informally, in the real and virtual worlds, in 2021.
Whether it’s a virtual coffee date, a celebration via Zoom or real-life knock-off drinks, finding and facilitating light-hearted and enjoyable occasions for colleagues to shoot the breeze will help teams maintain connections and esprit de corps in 2021.
Working together
Adjusting to change is often challenging and Australians have had to do more than their fair share of it in recent months. Recognising the efforts of your team and staying engaged with them as you navigate the post-COVID business landscape and settle into new norms together will help ensure they remain committed, productive and ready to deal with whatever 2021 has in store.
Matt Seadon is a general manager – APAC at Achievers.
