Improving workplace culture key to lawyers’ wellbeing: new survey

A new study of Australian lawyers shows that workplace culture is critical to improving their wellbeing. It recommends the introduction of more or better flexible working arrangements, improved management of lawyer wellbeing by firms, and greater understanding of the specific wellbeing needs of both junior lawyers and those managing them.

The survey of 1900 lawyers across Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia was by a research team including Professor Julian Webb, of Melbourne Law School, and principal investigator Emerita Professor Vivien Holmes, at the Australian National University.

About half of the lawyers surveyed believe the culture of their workplace has a negative effect on their wellbeing. The survey also found that 18% of participants worked in organisations with a ‘poor’ culture, characterised by poor relationships with colleagues, incivility, self-interest, and pressure to cut corners and bend rules.

Higher-than-average levels of psychological distress were reported across all practice cultures by junior lawyers, and by senior lawyers with practice management responsibilities.

The report is published today.

Professor Webb says, “We found poor culture was statistically associated with higher psychological distress, workplace incivility, and a lack of effective well-being supports such as flexible working, better workload management, and tailored counselling or employee assistance programs.”

Professor Holmes adds, “Our study identifies a clear relationship between workplace culture, wellbeing and career intentions, with a third of participants reporting that they want to quit their firm, and one in 10 planning to leave the profession within a year.”

For those planning to leave the sector, Professor Holmes notes, “High workloads and a poor balance between perceived effort and reward were a serious problem.”

Importantly, there were also positive findings. Professor Webb points out, “Nearly half of legal workplaces had a positive culture with good wellbeing supports, stronger relationships and healthier and happier staff.”

Professor Holmes concludes, “We were able to identify the foundations for good workplace culture as  having supportive colleagues and good management; practical, flexible work arrangements; and a positive focus on the quality of work. These factors have shaped our recommendations to the profession.”