Sidley Associates Better Get Their Butts To The Office If They Want Their Full Bonus This Year

Biglaw prognosticators have suspected this was coming for a while, and it's finally here. A major Biglaw firm is considering office attendance in their bonus decisions for 2023. As reported by Bloomberg Law, Sidley is telling associates if they want their full bonus this year, they'll have to get to the office three days a week, as per their policy.
For the most part, Biglaw has settled into a hybrid work schedule, with most firms asking attorneys to come to the office two to three days a week. Well, it's 2023 and it's rapidly becoming less of a request and more of a requirement. Sidley's office attendance policy has settled into the middle ground of requiring associates in the office three days a week. Now the firm is letting associates know (during their annual performance reviews) that in-office attendance will be one of the factors considered in awarding their year-end bonuses.
Now associates may not love that they're seeing the stick instead of the carrot to get them back in the office, but you have to appreciate that the firm is giving associates time to get themselves in compliance before their bonus is impacted. We all remember that last year, some firms slashed bonuses for insufficient office attendance -- a previously unannounced policy. So, yay for actually communicating your attendance policy.
The firm is leaning into the positives of getting back to the office in their statement on the new policy, "We have asked all of our lawyers and staff to come into the office and embrace the collaborative culture that Sidley is known for around the world." They continued:
Sidley policies are similar to those of clients, who have returned to offices, the firm's statement said. "At the same time, we have heard from associates that they value in-person contact with their peers and partners at the firm," Sidley said.
Now that Sidley has implemented this new policy, will other Biglaw firms follow? If your firm is linking bonuses to office attendance let us know! You can email us or text us (646-820-8477).


Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
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