The firm’s primary caregiver leave programme, introduced in 2015, already provides lawyers with 22 weeks of paid leave and nine months of job protection, and staff with 14 weeks of paid leave and seven months of job protection. Now it is expanding parental benefits with three new additions including a contribution to college education. The move was designed to coincide with Father's Day this year.
Enhanced benefits
Through onramping, Orrick already provides a 50 per cent workload expectation during the first month back from primary caregiver leave (which lawyers may choose to extend through the firm’s Flexible Work Arrangement programme). Through Guardrails, the firm is adding the important element of predictability. Guardrails give new parents the option of working predictable hours up to a maximum of six hours daily during the first month after returning from primary caregiver leave and the first two weeks after non-primary caregiver leave. The firm is also increasing non-primary caregiver leave benefits to give lawyers six weeks of paid leave and to add two weeks of onramping with the Guardrails option. The firm will increase non-primary caregiver leave for staff to three weeks of paid leave. Finally, Orrick will make a $250 contribution to a 529 college fund for all new babies of lawyers and staff.
'Retaining, advacing and inspiring best rising talent'
Orrick chairman Mitch Zuklie said: “These programmes are focused on retaining, advancing and, hopefully, inspiring the best rising talent at our firm. We have an unprecedented talent drain in our profession. As a result, clients are sometimes frustrated with the high turnover rate on their law firm teams. At the same time, many corporate legal departments are taking action to drive improvements in the diversity of their outside lawyers. We’re responding by building a best place to work culture, including innovative programs like these and our recent commitment to the Mansfield Rule. Altogether, we believe this makes a meaningful difference in our ability to field teams of unique quality, continuity and diversity.’
Popular initiatives
Last year, 33 Orrick associates, including five men, took advantage of the firm’s primary caregiver programme. Nine of them opted to move to a flexible work arrangement at the end of the onramping period. The firm’s FWA program currently includes 34 associates and of counsel.
About Orrick
Orrick is a global law firm focused on serving the technology, energy & infrastructure and finance sectors. Founded more than 150 years ago in San Francisco, it has offices in the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, China and Japan, as well as an affiliated office in Côte d’lvoire.
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