London law firm Stephenson Harwood has announced that staff can choose to work from home permanently, but at a 20% reduction in salary. The firm, which employs 1,100 people across offices in London, Paris, Greece, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea, said the option is available to all employees except partners.
A spokesperson for the firm told the BBC that remote workers recruited during the pandemic from outside London were already on lower pay packages reflecting reduced commuting costs. The new policy extends the option to existing staff, who can claim travel expenses if they need to visit the office.
The firm acknowledged that take-up is expected to be low. For example, a newly qualified lawyer earning £90,000 would see their salary drop to £72,000 if they chose full-time remote work, which the firm deemed unlikely given the need for office experience.
The announcement comes amid ongoing debate about remote working. Cabinet Office Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg recently sparked controversy by urging civil servants to return to the office, leaving notes on empty desks. Meanwhile, academic studies suggest remote work can boost productivity, and many private sector firms have adopted hybrid models.
Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom estimates that post-pandemic, about 10% of employees will work fully remotely, arguing it could boost productivity and reduce regional inequalities. However, some firms face resistance to office returns. At Apple, a group of staff wrote an open letter to CEO Tim Cook warning that mandatory office attendance three days a week would make the company 'younger, whiter and more male-dominated'. The letter, signed by around 200 employees, criticised the policy for favouring those who live nearby or have fewer family commitments.
