Law firms have been given guidance from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) on creating healthy work environments, after a review highlighted an array of concerns
The SRA’s ‘Workplace culture thematic review’, published this week to coincide with the guidance, found half of all respondents were working long hours, significantly beyond those contracted. The review, based mainly on a survey of 200 solicitors, also flagged up concerns about stress and pressure, a focus on financial targets rather than other achievements and anxiety around reporting mental health issues and bullying behaviour.
Concerns raised ranged from systemic bullying, discrimination and harassment to the failure to address these when raised to exerting pressure to take short cuts or act unethically. However, three-quarters of respondents reported working in a broadly positive environment.
The SRA’s guidance, ‘Workplace environment: risks of failing to protect and support colleagues’, can be read here.
Paul Philip, SRA chief executive, said: ‘We are concerned that some workplaces could potentially be contributing to mistakes and misconduct.’
