Dechert is the latest City firm to offer its London secretaries redundancy packages, as it looks to adopt more flexible ways of working.

The firm said a ‘small number’ of secretaries have been given the option to apply for voluntary redundancy as part of a restructure.

A spokesperson for the firm said: ‘To better support our clients and lawyers we are restructuring our secretarial support function in London to a hub model which will include more specialised skills. The new model will facilitate a cross-practice approach and will ensure our workforce can work flexibly to fit evolving working practices.

An aerial view of an anonymous office worker at their desk typing on a computer keyboard

Dechert has offered voluntary redundancy to a ‘small number’ of secretarial staff

Source: iStock

‘It will offer our secretaries new development and career progression opportunities. As part of the initiative, a small number of secretaries have been offered the option to apply for voluntary redundancy on enhanced terms.’

Last month, magic circle firm Linklaters offered voluntary redundancy packages to all of its London secretaries, in the wake of a new policy that could see staff working from home up to half of the week. Some 225 secretaries and personal assistants have been offered severance packages. Clifford Chance - which has also drawn up long-term agile working plans - has also opened a redundancy consultation which could see between 44 and 73 business support staff members lose their jobs. 

Fieldfisher, Weightmans, Squire Patton Boggs, Shoosmiths, Irwin Mitchell, Reed Smith, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, DWF, Freeths and BLM have all announced redundancy consultations since the pandemic began.