As this website has reported numerous times, and as many people within the legal profession already know firsthand, many law firms are nudging employees to return to offices as COVID-19 fears fade. This has created much tension between management and employees at many shops since numerous employees do not understand why they need to spend time commuting to offices when they can just as easily perform their work from home. I was talking to a colleague recently who noted that it is much more difficult to get gossip about a workplace when people work remotely than when they are in an office, and forcing people to come to offices is making it easier for workers to gossip.
I worked at four different law firms before starting my own practice, and the rumor mill and gossiping at all of these firms was intense. People spent a fair amount of time during the workday kibitzing with coworkers and exchanging rumors about compensation, who would be promoted, who would be picked for certain assignments, and other subject matters. When a firm was doing poorly, the rumor mill was even more intense. Each time someone was let go at a law firm at which I worked, it was immediately apparent to everyone, and the rumor mill churned such that everyone had an opinion about the matter.
Rumors and gossiping are not good for law firms. Perhaps most importantly, this can lead to attorneys and staff devoting less time to their assignments if they are engaged in gossiping with coworkers. Moreover,...
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