We reported in June the rumour that top-tier firm Blake Dawson was using cagey means to avoid announcing a firm-wide pay freeze. A Blakes spokesperson said at the time:
Blakes will ‘recognise exceptional performances but in a more focused way than in previous years.’
The new ‘focus’, it has emerged (through our friends at Lawyers Weekly), meant that 30% of staff received pay rises this year. The Blakes team have apparently adopted a pay-rise-pay-freeze remuneration model this year and for the other 70% of Blakes staff, this means you’re out of focus!
In the article, Blakes deputy managing partner Helen McKenzie admitted that overall there has been an average drop of 10 to 12 per cent in compensation across the board.
McKenzie says there has been no discernable impact at Blake Dawson… “Our workplace is picking up and I think there is a reasonably resilient and confident mood around”.
No discernable impact? Obviously McKenzie forgot about the recent hijacking of Blake Dawson’s Wikipedia page.
McKenzie’s interview, however, offered a refreshingly candid insight into the machinations which apparently lead to decisions about the implementation of a pay freeze:
“We were pretty upfront about what our approach would be and we told everybody that there would not be a salary freeze and that there would be increases and bonuses for our high-performing people. …Retention is still important, but we’re not facing the same pressure from competitors.”
Reading between the lines, it seems that when competitive pressure re-emerges and people can find jobs elsewhere, the 70% of Blake Dawson staff presently subject to a pay freeze can look forward to a pay rise.
Good focus or good f**k-us? Send the Firm Spy your news and views!
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