After noticing an increase in associate turnover this year, largely due to stress-related issues, I proposed a well-being program for our firm. Just last week, a senior associate shared that she's been working 80-hour weeks consistently, leading to burnout and decreased productivity. Despite these signs, some partners remain skeptical, questioning the return on investment and potential costs. For those who've successfully launched similar initiatives, how did you secure buy-in from hesitant partners? Were there specific metrics or success stories that helped shift their perspective?
I think the problem isn’t a wellness program. It’s just the workload. The person who shared this with you isn’t going to have time to go to a wellness program. Her time is booked up by the 80 hour weeks.
Honestly, I can't imagine that anyone who has been in this profession for more than 5 years hasn't dealt with this.
My firm is quite progressive, has a robust mental health program and still deals with these issues.
It's not an ROI thing, it's an ethical and moral thing, as far as I am concerned.
Edited to add: kudos to you for taking this on. It's hugely important.