Jonathan Blair

Its staff now have the flexibility to combine home and office working, without any mandatory requirements being set across the business other than for those in learning roles.

The decision follows a firm-wide employee and partner survey asking how lawyers, professional advisers and business professionals wanted to work post-pandemic.

The new model was introduced across WBD UK from last week and provides a framework for people to agree whether they wish to be a homeworker; an office-based worker (with the possibility of working from home on an occasional basis); or a hybrid worker, splitting time between working at home and in the office, with the flexibility to choose if and when they go into the office.

Jonathan Blair, WBD’s UK managing partner, said: “Within three days of the first national lockdown back in March 2020, our 1,100-strong UK workforce were set up and working from home. It was a major logistical feat but not only has it worked well, it has shaped the future of our workplace now that restrictions are easing.”

He added: “We asked our people how they had found the last year, to tell us about the benefits and the challenges, and how they would prefer to work in the long term.

“A large majority said they wanted a blend of home and office working, had thrived working from home during the pandemic, and really wanted it to become a permanent feature of how our business operates. At the opposite end of the spectrum, many of our people also told us they were missing the office environment, wanting to socialise more, improve cross team collaboration, support new joiners and make the most out of on-site training opportunities.”