Nationwide Start Date Watch: Hogan & Hartson Is Moving On Back

When firms catch a case of the economy, their illnesses often follow similar courses. They may freeze salaries. They may conduct layoffs. And the latest trendy symptom: they may push back associate start dates, the idea being that saving a couple months’ worth of associate pay will somehow shore up the firms’ balance sheets, steel them against the battering winds of the economy, and position them to be the greatest and most billingest places known to mankind, now or in the future.

Last week, Hogan & Hartson succumbed to push-back fever and joined Sonnenschein, WolfBlock, Nixon Peabody and others in the start date infirmary. Reports a tipster:

Hogan & Hartson announced on Friday that it was delaying the start date of all incoming associates to November 30. In the past, incoming associates could choose any Monday on which to start.

The firm has not yet responded to our request for comment on the start date change, but if they do, we’ll let you know.

Details of Hogan’s war against the economy and a concluding rhetorical question, after the jump.


As at other firms, Hogan’s latest move is just one of several in an all-fronts assault on this cursed economy. The firm has also frozen salaries to 2008 levels and offered a bizarre, Sophie’s Choice-esque buyout to 250-300 staffers.

We’re all for wimpy measures like pushing back start dates and freezing salaries in order to preserve associate jobs. But do these soft tactics really save any jobs in the long run? They may buy associates time (and more paychecks), but when there are no Kleenex left to be removed, when the last free bagel has been ripped from the buffet, isn’t the end result the same?

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