Davis Polk & Wardell are Among Growing List of Law Firms Asking Employees to Return to The Office

What’s going on:      

Several law firms in New York are implementing more stringent return to office policies (RTO), according to Reuters. Davis Polk & Wardwell, which employees 1,000 lawyers, is requiring its lawyers to be present in the office at least four days a week.  

Other New York-based firms are adopting similar policies. Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is requiring its lawyers to work at the office Monday through Thursday.  

These changes in RTO policies by an increasing number of law firms follow similar moves by companies in other sectors, like finance, where JPMorgan Chase & Co and BlackRock Inc have increased their demands for office attendance. Additionally, several large tech companies like Meta and Amazon have also updated RTO policies.  

Why it matters:     

As the pandemic economic era fades, the shift towards more in-person work policies signals a potential decline in remote and hybrid work arrangements for job seekers. This could impact workers’ flexibility and work-life balance that many have become accustomed to in recent years. 

Reuters reports that there are some firms like Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan that continue to offer more flexible work policies, allowing their lawyers to work from anywhere in the country. 

How it’ll impact the future:        

There is a trend toward more in-person work policies being adopted by major employers across different industries. Updated RTO policies are also being introduced at major U.S. government employers like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This could influence smaller organizations and businesses to do the same, potentially leading to a decline in remote work opportunities within the country.