How to Keep Your Law Firm Employees Happy
Law firms are small communities of staff members that work together closely and have a lot of interactions with each other regularly. Effects of poor environments include disengaged workers with 37% higher absenteeism, 49% more accidents, and 60% more errors and defects throughout the year. If the atmosphere of a law firm isn’t positive, it’s possible you could lose good team members who don’t want to come to work and will find a new place of employment. Below are different ways you can keep your law firm employees happy regularly and engaged.
Develop A Supportive Atmosphere
The first thing that your employees need to know is that they’re supported by their supervisors and other team members. Working in an industry such as this, there are times when client tempers will fly and your employees could be put in awkward situations or in situations where they have to be blunt about the situation. They need to know that they are supported by their employees. Offering them a place to vent and discuss these issues lets them know they have your ear and can go to you for guidance.
Offer Great Benefits
As a lawyer’s office, you can offer the same types of benefits other companies offer their employees, like health insurance, 401k, and paid time off. However, take it a step further, as a lawyer’s office, and consider offering legal benefits that are heavily discounted or included with their employment package. Estate Planning is the process of creating a set of legal instructions that dictate what will happen to you and your estate once you are incapacitated and after death. This is a great option to offer employees who want to have other options of benefits and will show your appreciation by offering this option of help and financial security.
Show Tokens Of Appreciation Throughout The Year
Throughout the year, you can have your standard Christmas parties and annual events, but show your employees that you see them and appreciate them with small gifts. Dropping off a gift card to their favorite restaurant, or having random catered lunches just because lets your employees know they are valued. Giving them an early day off with pay shows that you value their time and the different events that they may have going on in their life.
Offer to Mentor Your Employees
Some of your employees may be looking at the legal field as a future career and they want to move up. Those who want more should be encouraged. Be the first person to encourage them, and offer to mentor them through this journey. Review schools and courses with them, ensuring they are on the right path, and bringing them into different meetings so that they can get some insight into the career. This will show appreciation and improve their work ethic, as they will want to work harder and more efficiently.
Encourage Positive Mental Health And Relaxation
One of the best ways to help your employees and keep them happy is to encourage positive mental health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1.2% of U.S. adults were diagnosed with OCD in the past year. If you start to notice some of these signs from your employees or find that they are distracted quite often they may need some positive encouragement for their mental health. Offering options of employee retreats, or paying for massages every quarter is a great way to encourage relaxation and mental health.
Your law firm is only as good as your team, and that isn’t complete without quality staff. Make sure that they know they’re appreciated in your office and that their health is important. Be active in their lives and show them that they are like family, by making their concerns and needs your concerns and needs. This will maintain good employees and a successful law firm.