Young staff sleeping overnight at Melbourne office rather than going home
The AFR reports
Top-tier legal firm King & Wood Mallesons is the subject of an unprecedented WorkSafe investigation for overworking lawyers and staff to meet punishing royal commission deadlines.
The investigation was triggered by a complaint about employee fatigue during high-pressure situations at the firm’s Melbourne office, and is thought to relate to the work the law firm did in the first months of the Hayne royal commission. KWM represented AMP, Suncorp, Youi and IOOF during the commission.
A source said KWM graduates were subjected to gruelling conditions, with some employees choosing to sleep at the firm’s Melbourne office rather than return home. Day and night shifts were allocated, so work could continue around the clock.
KWM chief executive partner Berkeley Cox said the firm had taken “deliberate steps to manage” the royal commission demands, including allocating resources from other parts of the firm, appointing additional permanent legal staff, work rosters, and using a casual workforce. Janie Barrett
“The grads are traumatised from it all,” the source said.
The investigation, formally classified as an “inquiry” by Worksafe, is understood to be the first safety investigation into a law firm and has sent ripples across the industry, which has developed a reputation for overwork and stress, as well as a hyper-competitive environment for graduate positions. WorkSafe is Victoria’s safety regulator, which makes sure employers comply with occupational health and safety.
KWM’s Melbourne offices have inspector notices posted on every floor, which say the firm may be in breach of the Occupational Health & Safety Act in relation to fatigue and overworking staff.
If the law firm is found to be in breach of the act, WorkSafe can seek a maximum $285,426 fine for individuals, including partners, or issue enforceable undertakings.
It’s understood KWM first became aware of the WorkSafe complaint on August 9. Later that month, WorkSafe representatives met with KWM at their office to further discuss the complaint. KWM must formally respond to the complaint by mid-November.
Read more at https://www.afr.com/business/king–wood-mallesons-investigated-for-overworking-employees-20181010-h16hei
