U.K. top 50 firm Walker Morris and Dentons have taken further measures to protect themselves from the financial impact of COVID-19.
Walker Morris will not hand out its long service awards of £1,000 or other bonuses, the firm confirmed on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the firm said in a statement that it has postponed payments of all bonuses “for the time being” due to COVID-19.
The statement added: “It would not be appropriate to pay out these awards when colleagues are furloughed.
“The measures we have implemented affect all staff and partners and are intended to share the burden fairly, in the interest of protecting jobs and the business.”
Walker Morris is among several firms to have furloughed staff in April as a result of the coronavirus.
Dentons’ U.K. and Middle East (UKME) arm, meanwhile, has implemented more changes following several steps taken earlier in April.
The firm confirmed on Thursday that it is now asking all its U.K. employees to ”agree to flexible reduced work patterns” for six months, starting on June 1, according to a statement.
The new patterns will consist of four-day weeks, or other equivalent flexible patterns, with a 20% reduction in salary as a result.
The new scheme is voluntary and flexible, it can be applied to different teams across different periods of time. Similar arrangements are being proposed in offices in the Middle East.
Meanwhile partners monthly drawings will be cut by 20% for the next six months.
Dentons U.K. and Middle East CEO, Jeremy Cohen, said in a statement: “The measures we are taking are flexible – we can turn them off or adapt them at any time in response to client requirements.”
On Monday, Law.com International’s U.K. arm revealed that the firm is furloughing over 100 staff members and deferring partner distributions across its UKME operations.
Law.com International also revealed on Wednesday that the firm is cutting associate pay by 10% in its Paris office as well as other measures.
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