How Friedman LLP is Meeting the Challenges of a Newly-Remote Workforce Head-on

Frequently ranked as a “Best Place to Work” by regional and national publications, investing in their employees’ personal and professional well-being has always been an integral aspect of the firm’s culture. However, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing employees’ well-being is amplified.

“Establishing a remote, digital workforce has been the best way for us to keep our employees safe. However, we recognize the toll that this new way of life has on the mental health of our employees,” said Lindsay Gaal, Chief Human Resources Officer. “As such, we’ve been finding innovative ways to stay connected to boost our employees’ morale.”

Employees have held several informal virtual happy hours via Zoom, allowing employees to connect and decompress with their colleagues during this difficult time. “We really wanted to take a moment and just enjoy each other’s company—even from quarantine,” said Nick Cote-Eckert, Learning and Development Coordinator. “I almost forgot we weren’t all together.”

Teams have also opted for weekly check-in meetings (video required) where employees have the option of sharing how they are feeling as others provide helpful coping strategies. Employees have described the experience as cathartic, uplifting and a strong reminder that despite the distance their feel like part of the Friedman community.

A recent firm-wide virtual yoga class was recently offered by one of Friedman’s employees who holds a 200-hour yoga certification. “Isolation and disruptions to daily routines can have a strong impact on an individual’s emotional state. Offering virtual yoga classes was a way for me to help reaffirm community and provide an outlet for stress and anxiety,” said Gabrielle Too-A-Foo, Communications Specialist/Marketing Writer.

Employees have begun using the firm intranet as a social communication platform where they post uplifting quotes and check in with one another in an effort to boost engagement and morale. “Just seeing how our employees are taking their own steps toward staying connected and engaged is a true testament to our firm’s compelling culture,” said Gaal.

Despite the firm’s every effort to stay positively connected, this new largescale digital workforce creates more opportunities for cyber-attackers to infiltrate unprotected systems. As such, the firm’s cybersecurity practice is taking every measure to secure remote digital devices and frequently shares guidance with employees and others on how to keep sensitive data safe.

“What’s happening in the world right now is absolutely devastating, but I find some comfort in seeing our community’s drive to preserve and support one another,” said Gaal.

Firm Management