A London-based law firm has made headlines as it has offered staff the option to permanently work from home but pay them 20% less than their current salary. The firm, Stephenson Harwood, told the British media that it had hired some remote workers from outside the capital during the pandemic on a lower pay package.
The firm is now extending its work from home option to existing staff but is also applying the salary difference between the two packages. If the staff are required to commute into the capital, the firm said the remote workers could claim travel expenses. The choice of full-time remote working has been extended to all employees, but partners remain excluded.
To put the remuneration into perspective, the starting salary for on-site, newly qualified lawyers at the firm start at £90,000 per annum but if the work from home option is chosen, the salary offered declines to £72,000 per annum.
The policy comes at a time when the debate over the return to the office continues to rage. Research has shown that remote working can boost staff levels of productivity as well as save them time and money, employers too can save on office space and costs and improve levels of staff satisfaction.
The firm’s spokesperson said its current policy of allowing up to two days per week work from home suited many of its employees across its offices in Europe and Asia Pacific
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
