New Law Firm Perk: Work Shorter Week Until Gas Shortage Ends
At least one law firm is responding to a temporary gasoline shortage in the southeastern United States by creating a new perk for staffers.
Until the situation is back to normal, employees of Atlanta-based Balch & Bingham can work a four-day week, explains the Daily Report in an article reprinted by New York Lawyer (reg. req.). They can choose to take Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday off, and their days off will be staggered so that the firm still has adequate coverage at its offices. (They also are expected to work the same amount of hours, over four days, as they ordinarily would over five.)
Managing partner T. Joshua R. Archer says the idea came to him on Tuesday, as he was walking the halls and overheard a secretary ask the office manager if she could leave early to get in line at a station that she’d heard had gas to sell.
“It seems like a good idea from an efficiency and productivity standpoint,” he tells the legal publication, pointing out that it should be easier to find gas when others are working. Plus, having a full tank reduces stress because it’s one less thing to worry about.
The current gas shortage resulted from a disruption in supply caused by Hurricane Ike. Most of his law firm’s staff don’t live in Atlanta, and drive to work from the suburbs, Archer notes.
