b'Local Government Lawyer 19paper, and a handful shared their aversion toTable 4: What has been the effect of the growth in remote/hybrid working on productivity hot desking. been so far?This could suggest that investing in the physical office environment is no longer aProductivity has significantly improved 8%priority for local authorities, who are placing their limited funds elsewhere. However, this may make it harder to coax home workingProductivity has moderately improved 39%employees back into the office if the time comes.It has made little difference to productivity 47%Giving it 125%On work output, lawyers say they are an estimated 125% as productive since workingProductivity has moderately declined 4%partly or entirely from home, compared to when they worked in the office.Productivity has significantly declined 1%And, it seems that managers do not dramatically dispute this, with 47% saying productivity has improved since the growth in remote / hybrid working, and 47% saying itTable 5: To what extent have the following management challenges become easier or has made little difference. Positively, only 5%otherwise since the growth of remote/hybrid working?of managers note any decline in productivity (See table 4). This could be put down to fewerCommunication distractions, more time working rather thanwith clients 19% 56% 18% 1%commuting, or simply lawyers being happier,6%well rested and therefore more motivated.Management of 7% 61% 25% 4%One manager observes: The team I leadworkflow/efficiency 3%has become much more proactive since theyMonitoring of 4% 57% 29% 8%have been able to achieve work life balance.quality of work1%There has been a real positive impact uponTraining of staff 14% 36% 40% 8%culture. 1%However, some lawyers are finding itMaintaining morale/ 14% 24% 50% 6%hard to set boundaries from home, withwellbeing 7%the workday merging into their eveningsEnabling team working 3% 26% 56% 14% arguably being a bit too productive. One1%says: The difficulty with WFH is when you can switch off. [Its] too easy to sit at yourSignificantly improved Made little difference Significantly deterioratedcomputer from when you wake up until youModerately improved Moderately deterioratedretire to bed.Management challenges Table 6: What difference has the increased availability of remote or hybrid working made to Looking at how management have coped withyour ability to recruit and retain lawyers?certain tasks since the growth of remote / hybrid working, 70% of heads of legal observe a deterioration in their ability to enableMade it significantly14%team working, and over half (56%) say thateasierit is more difficult to maintain staff morale / wellbeing, without seeing individuals inMade it moderately person (See table 5). easier 56%One manager notes: I find it more difficult to assess wellbeing and morale remotely. This was easier when seeing individuals regularlyMade little difference 19%in the office, [with] any change to their usual demeanour easier to spot seeing them inMade it moderately person. more difficult 7%However, employees seemed less concerned about the impact of remoteMade it significantly working on their communication andmore difficult 4%relationship with management since working remotely, with the majority (61%) citing no'