Anger over DLA Piper Layoff Pay: Only 1 Extra Month for UK Volunteers
Lawyers in the London office of DLA Piper who volunteered to walk away from their jobs in exchange for a sweeter severance package are getting only one month’s extra pay.
And they and their friends still working at the megafirm aren’t happy about the “voluntary redundancy” package, reports Legal Week.
The DLA Piper severance—one month’s extra pay plus the amount required by statute (one week of pay, up to 350 pounds per week, for every year at the firm, for those who have worked there two years or more)—reportedly doesn’t compare favorably with what those laid off by other major United Kingdom-based law partnerships are getting. Linklaters, by comparison, apparently is giving laid-off workers three months of severance pay plus an additional three weeks of pay for every year they have been with the firm, the legal publication states.
“I understand you’re disappointed and angry, but that’s where we are,” said Catherine Usher, managing partner of the firm’s London office, at a Feb. 27 meeting, according to leaked minutes.
A deadline for “voluntary redundancy” expired yesterday, and the firm continues in consultations about the possible elimination of up to 30 legal professionals and 100 staff from its roster, Legal Week reports.
The leaked meeting minutes also show that up to 8 percent of the firm’s partnership has recently left, Legal Week says.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Under 1-tier Structure, DLA’s Equity Partner Count Jumps from 300 to 670”
