Practice Development Counsel

***Next Generation, Next Destination***

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THE FLEXIBLE FIRM

Keep Valued People
and
Improve the Bottom Line

Whether the economy is up or down, organizations want to attract and retain valued knowledge workers. Increasingly those professionals ask for more flexible work arrangements. Learn how to make those arrangements work.

A service of
Practice Development Counsel and Values At Work

REDUCE COSTS, RAISE MORALE

For a generation now, the traditional approach to careers has often proven to impose on a healthy work/life balance. Ultimately this affects productivity. As a result, many people are re-assessing their priorities. Generations X and Y want flexibility and balance, and many babyboomers would welcome that as well.

What's needed is a win-win for firms and personnel, because what looks like a perk today will be a requirement of the workplace tomorrow. Above all, this is a significant issue for everyone - male and female, those with children and those without, equity partners, associates, managers and staff.

If your firm wants to save money and keep good people, a flexible workplace is one key to future success. At present, though most sizable firms have balanced hours and flexibility programs, they are underutilized and largely ineffective. Consequently they face high turnover costs, exodus of talented professionals, and uncertainty for clients.

Further, most firms do not include the full range of financial factors when they calculate the cost of turnover, resulting in an inaccurate picture of the costs and benefits of flexibility. We can help you reduce costs and increase your firm's attractiveness as a place to work with carefully planned flexible work arrangements (FWAs).

Remember: it costs anywhere from $150,000 to $500,000 to replace a valued professional plus the intangible costs related to reduced client satisfaction and loyalty. A well-planned FWA program is well worth the investment.

The elements of flexibility can include balanced or flexible hours, alternative work locations, cross-training and flexible staffing.

BENEFITS TO THE FIRM:

Reduced turnover
Short-term and long-term savings (including recruiting and space costs, lost billings, lost clients, training time, etc.)
Reduced risk (fewer new people cycling in and out of firms who require training to learn how the firm works)
More satisfied clients - especially those who are sensitive to work/life issues - because of continuity of their service teams.
Greater recruiting success as an "employer of choice"

BENEFITS TO THE INDIVIDUAL

Reduced stress, increased morale
Work expectations that are managed proactively, rather than reactively
Greater productivity, satisfaction, loyalty, and pride

HOW WE CAN HELP

We will work with your entire firm, or with individual practice groups, to devise a framework for successful FWAs, by:

Providing an objective analysis for your firm and it's culture; presenting interview results and numerical data
Helping to create policies for schedules, teaming, alternative work locations, compensation, benefits, recruiting, etc.
Conducting individual coaching for associates, partners or staff and their supervisors planning a FWA
Facilitating a true dialogue with both FWA participants and their supervisors to anticipate problems, talk through "undiscussable" issues, and create a model for dealing with future problems
Providing follow-up coaching to ensure ongoing effectiveness
Providing evaluation of the program based on criteria developed in partnership with the firm and recommendations for adjustments

* OBJECTIVITY *

* DIALOGUE *

* ONGOING ATTENTION *

A VISION: What will the successful firm look like?

The Flexible Firm will:

Have specific, custom-tailored policies governing FWAs, requiring clear input and commitments from both the firm and the individual, as well as definitive criteria for measuring success
Have low turnover of desired professionals and staff who remain for many years, confident that the firm values their contributions and will work with them during different phases of their lives
Attract the highest quality recruits, eager to be hired by such a firm, knowing its reputation as a high-quality workplace that values individual employees
Attract and retain high-quality clients, who will be impressed with the stability of the firm and reward the firm with long-term work relationships
Have a bottom line that handsomely reflects its strong policies, low turnover and high quality workforce

Your Firm can be a Flexible Firm - Today

We will be happy to have a confidential discussion of your firm's current situation, needs and how we can make a difference.

These services are provided by Holly English and Phyllis Weiss Haserot.

Phyllis Weiss Haserot bio

Holly English bio