Either associates at a law firm's Singapore office have been seriously slacking off, or the firm's head partner is taking micro-managing to a whole new level.
All associates at Hogan Lovells' Singapore offices are expected to be at their desks promptly by 9:15 a.m. or suffer the consequences if they aren't, according to an email a tipster forwarded to Above The Law.
Check out part of the email Andrew McGinty, head of the Singapore office, sent to his staff:
The Shanghai partners have decided that we will continue to operate the daily report system as before but will not circulate the report to all members of the Shanghai Office but will circulate the record to all the partners and [redacted]. [She] will note all those arriving after the required time, and will notify the responsible partners whenever anyone arrives late a certain number of times within a month (regardless of the reasons). If these absences are found to be excessive and not justifiable on reasonable grounds, those people will be spoken to and warned. If there is insufficient improvement after the warning, an internal review will be conducted and disciplinary measures may be imposed. Persistent non-justifiable lateness will henceforth be included as a factor that will be considered in relation to internal promotions, appraisals, pay reviews and renewal of contract decisions.
[Redacted] will still complete the report by 9:15am each work day morning. Please let her know before 9am if you will not be in the office by 9am and, if so where you are and when/what you expect to return to the office. If the reason for your absence is “running errands”, please specify whether it is for personal or for business purposes. In all case, an expected return time is required, otherwise it will be recorded as “no explanation”.
This helicopter-management style seems to be gaining prominence in the legal industry.
Last fall Canadian firm McCague Borlack LLP began requiring employees to swipe their finger every time they left or entered the office.
The firm was reportedly sick of employees taking long lunches and wanted to scare them straight.
Head over to Above The Law to read the full email, as well Elie Mystal's rant against the new system.
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