A cautionary tale on April Fool’s jokes from international firm Weil Gotshal.

The firm has received unwanted notoriety on social media today after a prank that went spectacularly wrong yesterday.

In an email to staff entitled ‘Important New Email Policy’, the firm circulated the message that future emails would no longer be sent, not unreasonably, between 11pm and 6am. Believing this to be a welcome act of generosity for hardworking associates who never switch their phones off, many staff failed to notice the date of the circular.

It turned out the firm was indeed joking and had not implemented such a policy. Cue a hefty backlash from scorned employees and the firm’s act of faux generosity spread across the internet for the world to condemn. Obiter wonders who the joke will ultimately be on.

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