According to PayScale’s Compensation Best Practices Report, remote work is becoming a major part of law firms’ benefit packages. Most paralegal positions posted on LinkedIn comes with some type of remote working arrangement at least until the pandemic is controlled. Law firms are looking for ways to reduce their payroll expenses by having their paralegals work remotely.
Some have already seen some cost savings from a remote work strategy that have nothing to do with base pay, particularly as regards to infrastructure. For example, law firms could save money by shrinking their office space, reducing, or eliminating commuter benefits, and reducing expenses associated with workplace meals and other perks that are attractive benefits in an onsite work environment.
Even though they may appear to be some upfront savings with remote employees’; law firm should expect to see new expenses with supporting a remote workforce such as: computers, monitors or other home office equipment, stipends for internet connectivity, upskilling or reskilling to help employees thrive in a remote work environment and collaboration software and other cloud-based technology.
These expenses are usually the responsibility of the virtual paralegals that would save law firms and legal departments in payroll costs.