Just under half of conveyancers feel a four-day week negatively impacts transactions to at least some extent, a Today’s Conveyancer survey has found.
Notably, of the 267 respondents, over a quarter (26%) feel it is impossible for a conveyancer with a full caseload to operate a four-day working week. A further 22% say that while it is possible, transactions suffer. 52%, on the other hand, feel it is perfectly possible.*
The poll followed a recent entry into the Diary of a high street conveyancer where, following two consecutive Bank Holiday weekends in May, the author questioned the feasibility of a four-day working week in conveyancing.
“I admire the sentiment, [but] I don’t think it works,” they said, adding:
“We live in a 24-hour society. We know that clients want an immediate response. We discuss endlessly in the conveyancing world how clients – and others involved in the process – email and then call if there is no response to their email within five or 10 minutes. And we all know that we will be asked for an update at 5pm on a Friday and then asked for another one at 9am on a Monday.
So how does this work if you, the conveyancer, only work four days a week?”
They went on to give examples of how a four-day week has held up transactions in their experience. In any case, the comments left by some readers – and the results of the survey – suggest it’s not a foregone conclusion, so Today’s Conveyancer spoke to several figureheads within the industry to find out more.
Demanding clients and ‘worrisome’ changes
The feasibility of a four-day week in a competitive conveyancing market ultimately comes down to whether homemovers are happy to wait for a response, suggested Lorna Thomson, Head of Residential Conveyancing and Partner, Clifton Ingram Solicitors.
“From personal experience, my clients simply will not tolerate me not being in the office and available five days a week. It’s expected,” said Thomson. “I am even getting push-back now from clients who can’t understand why I am not available to take their calls or reply to emails at the weekend. In an increasingly competitive market, service levels are fundamental to retaining the client. That’s just not manageable in four days, unfortunately.”
Craig Underwood, Group COO of ONP Group acknowledged that “valid concerns” about the feasibility of a four-day working week have been raised:
“Conveyancing demands meticulous attention to detail and strict adherence to timelines, which makes transitioning to a four-day week worrisome in terms of maintaining transaction quality and efficiency. Clients depend on prompt responses and swift issue resolution, which could be compromised with reduced availability.”
The concerns of Thomson and Underwood are evidently shared by over a quarter of conveyancers. “I don’t think I could ever enjoy the extra day off due to worrying about my inbox imploding,” said one social media user. Another said they have even been afraid to take days off when ill in the past for fear of files building up.
A different user said it’s not possible “unless you are in a large firm where they don’t have personal fee earners and just work as a team”. Another said it’s possible, but “all you have to do is work from 6am-12am Monday-Thursday and remember sleep is overrated!”
‘My experience with the four-day week is only positive’
While there are a good number of conveyancers who doubt the feasibility of the four-day week in their role, what cannot be argued with is that there are a countless conveyancers who do operate a four-day week – and over half of respondents to the poll had no qualms about its possibility.
Aconveyancing, for example, have been particularly vocal about their experience with a four-day practice. Natalie Moore, founder and director of the firm, recognises the intensity and stress of conveyancing. While she concedes she cannot change the nature of the job, she also says, quite succinctly: “I don’t want to lose good conveyancers.”
In this endeavour, Moore trialled the four-day working week post-pandemic at her firm and has never looked back, and their “A-day” is now a standard business practice across all four of their offices.
“High levels of client service can only be delivered by a productive workforce and working 9am-5pm, five days a week, is an outdated model,” said Moore. “We have to find new ways to attract and keep the best talent in our profession and I am positive that four-day week does just that.”
Amber Lomas is a residential conveyancer at Aconveyancing operating a full caseload with a four-day week. She paid testimony to Moore’s comments:
“My experience with the four-day week is only positive. My work still gets done, all my clients are happy and looked after and I feel like I have more time for myself.”
Lomas noted the improvement to her work-life balance including the ability to visit family and book personal appointments at her own leisure on her “A-day”. She added:
“I understand why there may be doubt that it will affect transactions. However, from my own experience and from colleagues around me, I have not seen transactions negatively affected in any way.
As long as clients’ expectations are managed and they are aware of the day you don’t work, they are happy to wait for you to be in the office. If the matter is more urgent, the team works together to assist.”
Paul Sams, Head of Property and Partner, Dutton Gregory Solicitors, said there are several people at his firm who do not work a five-day week. “It is clearly feasible and works if you want it to [and] if the culture of the firm is correct.”
“I think it is certainly doable,” added Katie Page, associate, also of Dutton Gregory:
“Managing people’s expectations is key. My referrers all know my working hours and we work around it if required. My files don’t stop just because I don’t work on a Tuesday, so if there is something urgent like an exchange or completion, then it will be covered appropriately. If it isn’t that urgent, it can certainly wait 24 hours for me!”
Page added that, while there will “always be that Moaning Myrtle” who can’t wait an extra day, they “wouldn’t be happy regardless”.
What’s more, while he wasn’t afraid to air his concerns, ONP Group’s Craig Underwood also recognised the benefits of a four-day week:
“By streamlining processes, adopting cutting-edge technology, and optimising time management strategies, conveyancers can potentially uphold high standards while enjoying an improved work-life balance.”
He did note that “clients operate around the clock, necessitating continued operations over five days and manageable caseloads within the four-day workweek”. This, he says, means further enhancements to digital apps and portals would be required to support the need for 24/7 interactions.
*Poll conducted via LinkedIn. Results monitored for authenticity as conveyancers.
One Response
To the doubting Thomases – have you actually experienced it? I locum for a firm who went on to a four day week across the firm, no change in salary, and a much better work life balance. I can honestly say the changes I have seen have all been for the better – the staff are happier and more productive, there has been absolutely no detriment to the clients in terms of progressing their transaction. They are a very proactive cohesive firm and organised to the hilt – a real joy to locum for, and I very much admire their management strategy. Open door policy which is paying dividends and a real investment in their staff, together with a real willingness to listen to suggestions and endeavour to implement the great suggestions they receive.