‘Time-off bonuses’ for BCLP lawyers

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International law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) is championing wellbeing efforts in the legal industry by offering its employees time-off bonuses.  

The initiative, which has been “carefully designed to support the mental and physical health of those working at the firm”, will see associates who hit specific bonus targets become eligible for holiday that they can book using billable hours credit.  

It’s hoped that the scheme will encourage associates to feel comfortable taking time off to help them unwind from work. Lloyd Stephenson, the firm’s global director of inclusion diversity and recruitment, said the policy is  “a great opportunity to ensure that our lawyers are taking the necessary breaks in order to protect their mental health”. 

An additional “cash vacation bonus” is also being made available for associates who hit the firm’s “highest bonus eligibility target”.  

When speaking about this approach to employee wellbeing, co-chairs of the firm Lisa Mayhew and Steve Baumer said, “[we] are very proud of our new global investment hours policy, which is focused on recognising and rewarding the wide range of valuable contributions made by our lawyers to BCLP’s culture and community”. 

As part of BCLP’s plans to “encourage a more holistic view of success”, the firm is also refreshing its approach to diversity and learning by allowing its lawyers to use up to 5% of their billable hours on non-client work (eg, learning, diversity and wellbeing). The combination of these opportunities not only aim to protect the mental health of the firm’s employees, but also enable them to contribute “to the culture and long-term success of the firm behaviour”.