The complete renovation of the Hartford office of law firm Bingham McCutchen has altered the physical space for the office’s nearly 100 employees, but the firm hasn’t changed a thing about the way it creates a positive, productive working environment for its employees.
Bingham McCutchen, with 14 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia, has long been recognized for being one of the best places to work in Connecticut, and recently garnered a top 100 placement in this year’s Fortune Magazine ranking. The firm recommitted to the city last year when it renewed its lease at One State Street for another 10 years.
“We’ve made a significant commitment to this space,” said Daniel Papermaster, managing partner of the Hartford office. “It’s a 21st century space, and is consistent in its look to the rest of the firm.”
Papermaster said the company incorporated green technology into its redesigned office space with an eye toward creating more open, collaborative work environments. The office now features more glass to allow in more natural light, high tech telecommunications equipment for multi-tasking, its own cafeteria and new, multi-use rooms to improve functionality.
The practice itself presents a unique opportunity to its staff attorneys.
“We have a national and international practice out of Hartford,” Papermaster said. “It gives people the opportunity to have a pretty terrific lifestyle and practice law at the highest levels while living in this beautiful place.”
Bingham McCutchen incorporates team-building charitable activities into its office culture to enhance the sense of community at the firm. After the renovation work in the office was completed last spring, the firm held a celebration which included an auction of the art used in the old space. The artwork was sold to staff and attorneys, with proceeds to benefit a children’s program at Hartford’s Wadsworth Athenaeum.
Employees also regularly prepare meals at Loaves and Fishes, a Hartford human services agency, and prepare Mothers Day baskets each year for the women served by Hartford anti-domestic violence agency, Interval House.
“Our folks are really attached to these causes and want to contribute,” said Eve Morton, regional director of human resources. “They provide a great sense of camaraderie and giving back to the community.”
Bingham McCutchen has a schedule each month where employees sign up to volunteer at local charitable organizations such as Loaves and Fishes. Employees often prepare meals for the needy during an extended lunch hour.
“We have a volunteer program where we give our employees an opportunity to participate in charitable events,” Morton said. “The time they put toward that can be added up, and they can take a day to do something that interests them which is a qualified charitable endeavor.”
Employees may be motivated to do even more for the community now that their employer is behind them. The firm’s new policy is to match charitable donations to almost all recognized charities, up to $100.
Employees get to develop stronger relationships with each other outside of work as well, doing fun activities. Each summer, employees and their families are invited into the office to view Fourth of July fireworks from the office’s magnificent river-side perch.
In winter, employees strap on their skis and head out to a local ski area for night skiing as a group.
Papermaster said incorporating fun into the workplace is just smart business.
“One thing everyone knows who runs a successful business is that creating a good, healthy environment and building those kinds of relationships outside of business is critical,” he said.
Employees can’t help but develop that camaraderie, since most of them have worked together for years.
“Turnover here is pretty much nil,” Morton said. “People know each other a long time and that’s helped bolster the relationships and the depth of the relationships.”
With generous compensation and benefits packages, including greatly subsidized health club memberships, Bingham McCutchen strives to allow employees a good work-life balance.
Some telecommuting is permitted, and employees have taken advantage of that privilege during this winter’s harsh snow storms.
“We treat everyone like an adult,” Papermaster said. “We don’t need to monitor everyone’s work flow. They know what they need to get done and they do it.”
Morton said employees simply enjoy working for Bingham McCutchen.
“People work here because the work is interesting,” she said. “They can go home and be with their families and live their lives; they’re happy.” â
