How We Work Now: Anthony Ostlund Louwagie Dressen & Boylan
At Anthony Ostlund Louwagie Dressen & Boylan, “flexibility,” pre-pandemic, meant being in the office unless you were on a work trip or vacation. But when the downtown Minneapolis law firm encouraged employees to come back five days a week in July 2020, a culture clash ensued: Lawyers stayed home, while support staff resented not having that option. CEO and shareholder Janel Dressen then suggested lawyers aim for three days in the office, but without synched schedules, collaboration was difficult. “I thought we could do better,” Dressen says. This past June, the firm, which specializes in business litigation, instituted a set schedule for all employees so support staff could also get some benefits of working from home. Dressen shares these lessons:
- Benefits of set office days: “I know I can get up, walk down to a colleague’s office, and they’ll be there. I might ask someone about their weekend, and all of a sudden we’re talking about a case, solving problems. No one is going to call me from home to ask about my weekend.”
- Fostering mentorship: The firm provides a catered lunch each Wednesday. “How do you train from home?”
- Parking perk: Prior to 2020, the firm provided parking for partners. Now it is offered to everyone.
- Officing downtown: The firm extended its lease in Wells Fargo Center through 2024. “The courthouse and many of our clients are here, and there’s something energizing about being in the city.”
