Of the lawyers interviewed, 42% cited reduced stress levels as the one aspect of their job they would like to change. That's up 11 percentage points from the last time the survey was conducted in 2008. Further, 22% of those surveyed called for fewer hours at work and more personal time as the lone aspect they would change, down 8 percentage points from 2008, according to the survey.
Jamy Sullivan, executive director of Robert Half Legal, said keeping employees satisfied with perks and benefits, ultimately, is how many firms plan to bolster employee retention rates. "Unrelenting job stress and long hours can lead to staff attrition and productivity declines," Sullivan says. "To address these issues and retain key talent, legal employers are offering flexible schedules, telecommuting and remote work options, as well as additional vacation days."
Additionally, according to information in the survey, “greater professional autonomy” and “accelerated career growth” checked in as the next most desired improvements for lawyers at 7% and 6%, respectively. Only 2% of those surveyed said they would not change anything, given the opportunity.
Sullivan also said some legal organizations are enhancing “on-site perks” to improve employee satisfaction and “better balance work and personal demands” for their employees, such as subsidized gym memberships, meal plans, childcare and parking benefits. Law firms offering gym-related perks is consistent with data showing fully 58% of attorneys surveyed cited physical exercise as the most effective stress reducer.
Taking a break and talking to a friend or family member were cited behind exercise as the next most useful coping strategies, by 19% and 9% of respondents, respectively. “Helping legal professionals diminish job-related stress and improve work-life balance may be an employer's most effective retention strategy,” reads a statement from the staffing and consulting provider. According to additional data provided by Robert Half, legal professionals reported the highest stress levels of all the surveyed professions.
BCG Attorney Search warns attorneys should keep a sharp eye for potential burnout. BCG suggests watching for three major signals:
- Emotional exhaustion at the onset of the workday
- Feeling disconnected with others
- A diminished sense of accomplishment
“Excessive stress can cause lawyers to experience a variety of health problems from headaches, lower back pain, colitis, and ulcers to more serious ailments such as heart attacks and strokes,” BCG writes. “Other lawyers suffer from lack of concentration, procrastination, missed deadlines, insomnia, depression, anxiety, nervous breakdown, and attacks of rage.”
In addition to profession, data shows age and gender also play a role in workplace satisfaction. So called Gen X workers (those aged 35-54) reported in as the least satisfied age demographic, according to Robert Half, while those 55 and older reported the highest levels of happiness.
In the U.S., men generally fare better than women, according to the data. Nic Marks, CEO and founder of Happiness Works, a firm that partnered with Robert Half Legal to provide workplace happiness data said, by and large, satisfaction is not about “feeling cheerful every day or avoiding challenges.”
“Work can be difficult and demanding, but if employees feel proud of what their organization does, respected as a person and appreciated for what they do, then they tend to be happy and do better work as a result,” Marks says. “Happiness at work is a genuine win-win--great for employees and great for employers.”