Work-life balance

We recognise that the demands of performing at the highest levels professionally can provide challenges in balancing professional and personal lives.

We have developed initiatives to ensure that we are at the forefront of work life initiatives and best practice and thus demonstrate our values and our commitment to our people.

By developing practical and appropriate work-life initiatives, Bell Gully aims to set the standard for professional services workplaces in New Zealand.

• At Bell Gully we want to be the employer of choice for the most talented people, whether they be young law graduates, experienced practitioners, or business support staff. Our aim is not only to be the best law firm in New Zealand but also to have a Work-Life Programme which is underpinned by the firm’s values and which attracts and retains the best staff.
• Our work-life policies are designed to provide greater flexibility and career opportunities, and to assist staff to achieve balance and manage their responsibilities at home and at work. We look for ways to balance the individual’s need for support with the needs of the business.
• Our work-life policies include:
• Job sharing policy.
• Tele-working/working from home policy.
• Part-time work policy.
• Flexible working hours policy.
• Emergency child care policy.
• Office support at home where necessary – e.g. provision of laptops, mobiles, BlackBerries.
• Staged return to work from parental leave.

Also:

• Option to change night and word processing shifts to suit domestic arrangements.
• Additional resources supporting parents in the workplace – we publish a quarterly electronic staff newsletter with information on to child/youth/parenting and eldercare, and related publications available for staff. Books on general parenting themes are also purchased each quarter and made available to staff through our library.

Outside the office

Community support and contribution

Bell Gully takes its role in the community seriously. We wish to demonstrate good corporate citizenship through our support of community activities and organisations.

Our support is currently focussed on the development of leadership within New Zealand. Without leadership skills, we believe that it is impossible to capitalise on this country's undoubted talent and knowledge.

Whether leading a project, a business, a sporting team or a community, leadership skills make the difference to the ultimate level of success achieved.

As a firm, Bell Gully values leadership: we recognise and reward it in our people, develop it through our learning programmes, and also support its development through our partnerships and sponsorships.

We offer our support in a numbers of ways. In addition to formal firm-wide partnerships, many of our individuals volunteer or provide free legal advice to a range of charitable, community and sporting organisations.

• A partnering organisation with the First Foundation. We currently have two students for whom we provide scholarships and work experience.
• Provision of an annual scholarship to a Mt Roskill High School student in Auckland.
• A mentoring scheme for young Wellington lawyers and business support staff with Taita College students in Lower Hutt.
• Two-day work experience programme for Wellington College.
• We provide pro bono support for organisations as diverse as Plunket, the Breast Cancer Foundation, Salvation Army, and Youthtown, and provide heavily discounted fees for many other not-for-profit organisations.
• As part of our summer clerk development programme, each year the summer clerks take part in a charity challenge. In recent years it has been undertaking a DIY makeover challenge at Plunket clinics in Auckland and Wellington.

Business support and contribution

In addition to our support for community initiatives, Bell Gully supports organisations and activities that allow us to act as good corporate citizens, demonstrate business and community leadership, and to generate genuine public goodwill.

Our support is currently focussed on the development of leadership within New Zealand.

In addition to acting as experts and advisers to clients, our people take leading roles in the broader business sector and the communities in which we operate.

The firm supports a number of key business and community organisations through formal partnerships and sponsorships, offering a blend of practical and financial support for initiatives.

For more information see the Community section.

 

Questions? Just contact our HR Team.