Progress
Foster Swift's policies have changed throughout its history to reflect the changing work environment and progressive gender and racial politics. In 1983, Foster Swift made reduced hours arrangements available to accommodate the work-life balance for several women attorneys. These efforts to accommodate work-life balance have led to the success of many women attorneys who became shareholders in the firm after (or while in the midst of) a reduced hours arrangement.
Yet our firm is still evolving. We continue to seek out a diverse workforce and are committed to strengthening our representation of attorneys and staff of all backgrounds. At Foster Swift, we believe that a diverse and comprehensive staff enables us to better serve our communities.
We are updating our diversity training and other efforts to meet our existing diversity goals and we will continue to set new goals as the needs of our firm and our communities change.
EDUCATION
The Diversity Committee regularly hosts “Lunch and Learn” educational opportunities. Some of the topics covered include:
- Understanding the LGBTQ Community
- Human Trafficking
- Bias in the Workplace
- Implicit bias
- Implicit association
- Intro to Gender Identity
- Five Generations in the Workplace
- Microaggressions in the Workplace
Programs to promote work-life balance
As part of the firm's technology package, Foster Swift offers the ability to telecommute. Attorneys are encouraged to be in the office as much as is practicable, but sometimes working from home or out of the office is the best option. Prior approval for occasional telecommuting is not necessary.
The firm has also instituted a part-time policy available to attorneys who have been with the firm for one year or more on a case-by-case basis.