Biglaw, Email Scandals

Biglaw Firm Makes Big Joke Out Of Work/Life Balance

Does this firm really care about its associates' quality of life? Nope.

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WEIL GOTSHAL — 2015 APRIL FOOLS’ EMAIL

From: Cuevas, Lisa
Received: Wednesday, 01 Apr 2015, 7:01AM
To: US All; EU All; AS All
Subject: Important New Email Policy

Reports that both France and Germany have either considered or adopted workplace rules that ban emails to employees after their work hours have caused us to examine our own workplace and the impact that being “always on” has on our employees and their families. All studies we have seen point to reduced productivity. The issues are exacerbated in an international firm like Weil where offices span many different time zones. In Europe, there has been discussion of shutting down email for all from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. We have decided not to go that far, but effective May 1, 2015, the following rules will be in effect, implemented by software in each office:

(1) Email will not be transmitted between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This will be implemented in the local time zone for each Weil office. This will be the default email setting, subject to opt-outs as described below.

(2) Emails will not be transmitted between 11:00 p.m. Friday and 6:00 a.m. Monday, also implemented in the local time zone for each Weil office and also subject to opt out.

(3) When an employee is on vacation, no emails will be transmitted from 11:00 p.m. on the day prior to start of vacation to 6:00 a.m. on the first day back at work after vacation. All emails during this time will be automatically responded to with a message that the recipient is on vacation and not receiving emails, and the name, email address and telephone number of a designated substitute for the duration of the vacation.

(4) Travel between time zones: When you are traveling, if you have location services enabled on your phone, the system will adjust automatically. If you are working from a notebook computer, the computer will adjust the time when it is connected to the Internet and emails will properly be blocked (or appear) depending on the local time at your location.

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(5) Non Weil email will be unaffected but you are reminded that non Weil email accounts may not be used for firm business.

(6) Opt-outs: (for purposes of security, you must be on the Weil network to use these links)

a) You may choose to opt-out of the daytime and/or weekend rules by clicking on the appropriate button below.

b) There will be no opt-outs from the vacation rules without permission from your supervisor or Department or Practice Group Head.

These rules apply to legal staff (including partners) as well as non-legal staff. We are proud to be taking a leadership role in caring about our colleagues’ quality of life.

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To opt out of the weekday nighttime or weekend email ban click the following link: http://email_opt_out.weil.com/

Lisa I. Cuevas
Chief Talent Officer

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153

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