O'Melveny Earns Work-Life Seal of Distinction from WorldatWork's Alliance for Work-Life Progress for Third Year in a Row

February 09, 2015  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Amber Burke
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
415.984.8891
aburke@omm.com

WASHINGTON, DC ─ February 9, 2015 ─ O’Melveny & Myers LLP has earned the Work-Life Seal of Distinction from WorldatWork’s Alliance for Work-Life Progress (AWLP) for the third year in a row. The seal is a unique mark of excellence designed to identify organizational success in work-life effectiveness. O’Melveny is one of only three AmLaw 50 law firms to receive the distinction this year.

To select the 2015 Work-Life Seal of Distinction honorees, AWLP assessed companies’ policies, programs and practices across seven categories they have identified as critical to a best-in-class work-life portfolio in today's workplace: dependent care; health and wellness; workplace flexibility; financial support for economic security; paid and unpaid time off; community involvement; and efforts to transform organizational culture.

"This year's Work-Life Seal of Distinction honorees are an exceptional group of innovative leaders that strive to create a company culture that encourages work-life balance," said Anne Ruddy, president and CEO of WorldatWork and executive director of AWLP. "We have several companies reappearing from last year's list and we recognize those employers for their continued support in shaping our workplace with strategies and practices that enable employees to achieve success both at work and home.”

"At O'Melveny, we firmly believe that fostering a culture of flexibility benefits everyone—the individual, the firm, and our clients,” said Rochelle Karr, O’Melveny’s Director of Attorney Professional Development and Alumni Relations. “The AWLP’s work is an important tool for assessing our efforts and we are thrilled to be among the honorees again this year.”

CustOMMize, a broad program encompassing several different flexibility options that can be tailored to meet different needs and circumstances, distinguishes O’Melveny’s approach and has been cited as a leading program by Euromoney and Working Mother, among others. The range of options available to any associate or counsel—male or female—under the CustOMMize umbrella includes informal day-to-day flexibility, the Firm’s reduced workload and “Phase Back” (reduced workload following a leave) programs, remote work and flex time arrangements, a job share program, and the Bridges sabbatical program. More than 20% of the Firm’s attorneys have participated in some aspect of CustOMMize.

“My entire family is incredibly grateful for CustOMMize,” said Washington, DC associate Jesse Glickstein. “It afforded me the opportunity to spend time with my newborn son and assist my wife in caring for him. The program also allowed me to work remotely when needed, which offered me the flexibility to continue playing a role in my son’s life while continuing to fulfill my responsibilities to the Firm.”

The Firm also offers one-on-one consulting services with experts on a wide range of parenting issues; a coaching program for lawyers returning from parental, medical, and sabbatical leaves; backup childcare and eldercare; near-site childcare centers in some locations; on-site lactation resources; parenting groups; a comprehensive employee assistance program; generous paid and unpaid time off and extended leave options; flexible benefit options, including dependent and domestic partner coverage; tuition reimbursement; and pre-tax commuter benefits / transportation subsidies, among many other benefits.

AWLP was founded in 1996 as the central organization to advance work-life effectiveness as a business strategy designed to enhance engagement and productivity through the integration of work, family, and community. The organization is an affiliate of WorldatWork, a global association for human resources management professionals and business leaders focused on total rewards strategies designed to attract, motivate, engage, and retain a productive workforce and optimize the employee experience leading to enhanced organizational results.

About O’Melveny & Myers LLP
With approximately 750 lawyers in 15 offices worldwide, O’Melveny & Myers LLP helps industry leaders across a broad array of sectors manage the complex challenges of succeeding in the global economy. We are a values-driven law firm, guided by the principles of excellence, leadership, and citizenship. Our commitment to these values is reflected in our dedication to improving access to justice through pro bono work and championing initiatives that increase the diversity of the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.omm.com.