How Can We Ensure Advocates Leave by 10 PM and Arrive on Time the Next Day?

Dear Friends,

I am working in a law firm where the advocates have to work late sometimes, working until 2:30 am to 3 am in the morning. The next day, they arrive late, and when asked why they are late, they give us the excuse of late sitting. I want to know if there is any way the advocates can leave work by 10 pm at the latest and resume on time the next morning.

It's very urgent; please reply soon.

Regards,
Shiela Shetty

Hi,

There are a few ways you can try out:

1. You will have to generate a late-coming report of the employees on a weekly basis and discuss the same with your superiors. Take their opinion.
2. Instead of questioning them on a day-to-day basis, show them the data. You will find improvement.
3. You can consider flexible working hours for them, considering the nature of the industry.

Regards,
Jitendra

Could it be that the advocates continue to work until the early hours of the morning because they have a grasp of a concept or theory and won't let it go until they have explored every avenue? To ask them to stop at "10PM" may hamper their efficiency/effectiveness.

Are you sure you want to explore the issue without regard for the consequences?

The best thing would be:

1. To move to flexi-working hours. It typically works like this - each advocate would have to clock the minimum number of working hours per day, apart from being present at work during core hours. Most organizations keep 10 am to 4 pm as the key hours. You may keep 11 am to 4 pm as the core hours if that helps.

2. Make each one of them accountable for output and rewards based on output.

Hi Sheila,

How are you? I know you are worried about the late coming, but you need to understand the nature of the job of an advocate and the output required from them. You need to understand that the job of an advocate is highly skilled and knowledge-dependent, as the information and analysis they do in the office would be the basis of winning or losing the case in court.

You also need to understand what the issue was that required them to stay late. In case of any further help, feel free to email.

Cheers, Namitabh
9820680848