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Law Firms Shouldn't Lay Off Workers Around The Holidays

The negative perception generated by a law firm terminating employees over the holidays can be felt in a number of ways.

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pink slip RF via gettyOver the past several weeks, I have heard through the grapevine (and through reading Above the Law) that some law firms laid off people around the holidays. Of course, it is difficult to terminate employees during any time of the year, and law firms need to consider a number of factors when they make the difficult choice to lay off workers. Sometimes, laying off workers during the holidays is unavoidable since law firms cannot wait until after the holidays to lower their headcount. However, there are a variety of reasons why law firms should try their best to avoid terminating employees around the holidays.

Perhaps the biggest reason why law firms should avoid laying off workers around the holidays is that it ruins the holiday season for everyone involved. Workers who are laid off many not be able to enjoy the holiday season since they need to contend with the uncertainty of being without a job. In addition, employees who are laid off may not feel comfortable paying for presents or participating in holiday traditions because of the life situation they now face. The negative feelings that a laid-off worker experiences are also often faced by their family as well since children and spouses also need to contend with the uncertainty caused by losing employment around the holidays.

People who remain in an office may also have a difficult time enjoying the holiday season. Terminations can have a negative impact on morale at an office as empty desks are a constant reminder of people who departed during layoffs. In addition, workers who remain in an office may also have a sense of uncertainty since layoffs usually signal that a law firm is having financial issues which may impact people who have not yet been terminated. In addition, the act of laying off workers can negatively impact those who need to terminate employees, especially if a large number of people need to be let go.

Furthermore, law firms should try not to lay off workers around the holidays since it is harder for terminated employees to find new jobs during the holidays than at other points during the year. Law firms are often less focused on hiring during the holidays than during other parts of the year. This is because law firms usually have holiday parties and other priorities around the holidays that they do not have at other times of the year. In addition, people tend to go on vacation during the holidays, which can make it harder for decision-makers to give their approval for new hires.

Law firms often go to great lengths to try to ensure that terminated workers land on their feet. Indeed, law firms usually offer job replacement services as part of severance packages and lawyers often try to use their network to see if there are open positions at other firms and try to place terminated employees at other shops. Law firms should try not to put terminated employees at a disadvantage by letting them go during a period when it will be more difficult than usual for them to find a new job.

Law firms should also try not to lay off workers during the holidays since it looks really bad when they do so. If law firms terminate people over the holidays, managers at those shops look heartless for ruining the holidays of people that they let go. In addition, since presumably law firms would try at all costs to avoid terminating employees over the holidays, if shops do lay off workers during this time, they may look desperate because they seemingly could not economically avoid laying people off over the holidays.

The negative perception generated by a law firm terminating employees over the holidays can be felt in a number of ways. Attorneys and staff may not want to work at a law firm that terminates employees over the holidays since this may signal that a law firm does not care about its employees or is struggling financially so that they needed to take drastic measures like terminating employees during the holidays. In addition, clients may also not like it when firms terminate employees over the holidays since clients usually like to know they employ firms that treat workers well.

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Because of websites like Above the Law and others, numerous people in the legal community will likely find out if a law firm terminates workers over the holidays. This negative press should be avoided whenever possible.

Of course, if employees are terminated for cause or if a law firm really cannot wait to conduct layoffs, then law firms may need to terminate employees during the holiday season. However, to do the right thing and avoid negative press, law firms should try their best not to terminate employees around the holidays.

Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothmanlawyer.com.

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