We are proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for the Wellbeing award at the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2022. The award is in response to our employee Flexible Working scheme, which was also shortlisted for the HR Excellence Awards in December 2021.

The LexisNexis Legal Awards were launched in 2013 and recognise excellence and innovation across the legal sector. The Wellbeing award will be presented to the law firm, chambers, or in-house legal team, that has demonstrated the strongest commitment to providing or promoting a working environment that supports the mental and physical health of its staff, members or colleagues and enables them to maintain a healthy balance between their work pressures and home life.

Since piloting the flexible working scheme in 2019 pre-pandemic, we’ve introduced the scheme across our 22 offices in the summer of 2020 in a bid to allow staff more control and flexibility with their working patterns. We now offer colleagues three options: a 4-day compressed week, a 9-day fortnight, and a TOIL (Time Off in Lieu) system. The scheme has proved a success, with positive feedback from staff via an anonymous questionnaire issued to all colleagues. Asked if they felt that the firm provides enough flexible working initiatives to provide a good work-life balance, over 94% answered that they did. Nearly half (40%) of staff are taking part in some form of work-life balance program provided to them. Reeds has seen a 33% reduction in staff turnover across the company, and a 66% reduction in absence due to illness. The scheme has received some media attention locally and nationally over the last few years, and we’re proud to be providing a cutting-edge scheme for the wellbeing of our employees.

Other firms nominated for this award include Mills & Reeve, Shakespeare Martineau, Shoosmiths, and Stowe Family Law. The winner will be announced on the evening of March 30th, 2022.

Commenting on the nomination our Managing Partner, Jan Matthews, said:

“To be shortlisted for a LexisNexis Legal award is an achievement in itself, and I am particularly pleased to have been nominated for an award that recognises our commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of our staff, particularly during the pandemic.

Our HR team works tirelessly to ensure that we retain a happy workforce, and this nomination is a testament to their dedication to this commitment. Good luck to all the nominees and fingers crossed for the big night!”