Work from home – but earn less

A SOUTH WEST business owner has hit out at a London law firm that allows staff to work from home full-time – but only if they take a pay cut.

Alice Stephenson, founder of Bristol law firm Stephenson Law, has criticised London-based Stephenson Harwood, which is offering its employees the option to work remotely but for a smaller pay packet.

Stephenson Harwood hired some staff from outside the capital during the pandemic. They are paid less because they do not have to commute into London; if they do travel to the company’s office, they can claim travel expenses.

The business is now offering the option to all staff, but will pay them 20% less than their current salary. Employees can also chose hybrid working – where they work remotely for up to two days, but are in the office the rest of the time – and their salaries will remain the same.

Ms Stephenson has criticised the London law firm over the move. Her own business, which was set up in 2017, is completely remote and employs just under 40 staff around the world.

“I have no idea what was going through Stephenson Harwood’s brain when they agreed to this policy,” she said.

“Times have changed and remote working is here to stay. For the business, remote working can result in a decreased environmental impact, reduced overhead costs, and a widened recruitment pool.”

Ms Stephenson believes remote working offers benefits for staff, too, such as autonomy and flexibility for working parents and people with personal responsibilities. “The benefits are tenfold,” she said. “I believe the future of the working world should be a people-first enterprise, and remote working is a key part of facilitating that.”

When Ms Stephenson started her career in law, she was a single mother – but had no option to choose remote working. It is part of the reason she is determined to offer her staff the option, she said.

“I was battling to compete in a field that gave little consideration to my circumstances,” she said. “Had I had the benefit of remote and flexible working, I have no doubt that those early days would have been easier.”

Staff at the Bristol firm are encouraged to work from home where they see fit, with a subsidy for co-working space if they want it. Stephenson Harwood, meanwhile, said its hybrid working policy “strikes the right balance”.

“The packages we offered – including salaries, but also expectations – were different from what we offer our people who regularly work from the office in London,” a spokesman said.

In April, a Bristol businessman warned home-working was “not conducive” to running a successful company.