Biglaw

Biglaw Firm Encourages 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy When It Comes To Election Results

This firm seems to care about everyone's election-related feelings.

By  
on

Thanks to the rise of mail-in ballots due to the pandemic, Election 2020 votes are still being counted. That being the case, Election Day has now turned into Election Week, and it may soon turn into Election Month thanks to the various lawsuits that have already been filed (and the lawsuits that are assuredly yet to be filed) by President Donald Trump’s campaign.

Trump has already claimed victory without securing the necessary electoral votes to do so, conspiracy theories peddled by Trump and his supporters about purported election fraud abound, Joe Biden’s voter turnout is ever increasing as the count continues, and the true winner of the election has yet to be declared. Sleepless nights waiting on results have given way to unproductive days and billable hours lost. This is getting exhausting, and one Biglaw firm thinks it’s found a way to lessen the burden that employees are facing in the run up to the final election results.

Sources tell us that Steve Humke, the chief managing partner of Am Law 200 firm Ice Miller, sent out a firmwide email yesterday afternoon about the state of not just the election, but the state of everyone’s feelings. “In a political contest with such different candidates, it’s inevitable that the outcome leaves many of us with strong feelings. Whether those are feelings of satisfaction, disappointment or uncertainty, it’s likely that those feelings will remain for some time,” he writes. This is what Humke has proposed as a way people can deal with all of their election-related feelings:

Some members of our Ice Miller team certainly feel the lack of resolution more acutely, viewing the future with doubt and even fear. It will take time to overcome the divisions that were exposed in this campaign. It is important to give each other the space to work through these feelings. In particular, before discussing election results with co-workers, consider whether they are ready to do so. And, remember to demonstrate respect both to those in conversation and those around you; speak from your own experiences (and not for others or any group); and give yourself and others the permission to avoid or leave any such conversation at any time, without guilt or attribution. So, please reach out and support each other.

(Flip to the next page to read the email in full.)

One of our sources likened this plan to a form of “election don’t ask, don’t tell.” But really, it seems like it’s just a way to remain civil with others at work and express care for those who need it right now. Just because the election is almost over doesn’t mean that political strife will immediately stop — if anything, things are only going to get worse for a time. Ice Miller is giving its employees an avenue to express their beliefs and work through their feelings, if they so choose, and that’s not a bad thing.

Perhaps the better question to be asked here is why an email like this needed to be sent out in the first place. This election is bigger than your own ego. Be kind.

Sponsored

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

ICE MILLER — 2020 ELECTION

Sponsored

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Topics

, , , ,