Working on the train
Read another article today about lawyers working on the train, where the people in the carriage could listen to their conversation, listen to their calls, read their emails on their laptop and papers on the table.
Often when I am thinking about trying to remove these risks, I think about why they happen. Surely these lawyers have had training. I have been covering this stuff in training for 12 years, and yet it still happens.
So why would someone who knows better decide to ignore the training they have had and do it anyway? I expect many would say lack of consequences for failing to comply with the firms policy, or the regulator's code of conduct.
But I'm not sure it's as simple as that. Lawyers are, in the main, a diligent bunch, not rule breakers by nature, in fact lawyers because of the exact opposite, a determination to follow and apply the rules.
It is this diligence that I think causes these issues. The article described these lawyers discussing a meeting they just had, reporting to their client, and their boss. I wonder whether they left the meeting, had to get back home and felt they had to get on with the job at hand, making the calls , updating people, reading and replying to emails, as they would if they were in the office.
Why is this, who expects it? I suspect their employers. Often we see a disconnect between the policies we write (do not work on the train) and the reality of what is expected (let me know as soon as possible the outcome of your 1pm meeting). Someone who finishes a meeting at 3pm who wants to get home at a reasonable time, will absolutely feel they have to communicate with people when they are on the 4pm train home!
As a very frequent train user, I am always interested in the people who read a book, watch some TV, whilst I'm furiously trying to work (I don't talk to clients or other people or have sensitive emails open I hasten to add).
Maybe their employers have the right idea - we do not expect you to work on the train, we do not expect you to make that time up when you get home either. If you have to travel 2 hours to a meeting we will take that into account, and won't expect you to risk client confidentiality or impact on your work life balance, tell us about it when you get back to the office.
If I'm being fair, many employers probably say that too, which then leads to the interesting question which is why don't the lawyers believe them, but that's another issue for another time.
Financial Inclusion| Banking| Risk Management| DFS| Microfinance| Consumer Finance ?????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????
7 年Let’s not forget airports and on aircraft, I once read a competitors entire strategic 5 year plan from across the aisle on an aircraft - was sitting one row back of the CEO and his presentation was on full view (17” laptop) made easy reading. Copious notes made and a right turn in our own developments, outmanoeuvred them in two countries! Careful what you work on in public spaces!
Yes I often hear a lot of interesting stuff on the train. One time a guy was talking about an unfortunate interviewee and someone shouted ‘ Give her he job!’ Then everyone clapped and jeered. It's not just work. Often people will have the most intimate conversations practically shouting their personal life down the phone. Personally I think working on the train is for losers. There is always tomorrow. Just chill.
Medico legal consultant team lead medicodento legal services at Medical Protection Society
7 年Medicolegal advisors at MPS must use their privacy screen on laptops when in public. Great innovation, cheap, easy to use and weighs a few grams so no excuse there. We must all do more to protect privacy.
Owner of Tax Notes - writing about business, property and investment taxes
7 年I am not at all surprised by this. Over a period of 25 years, I have seen so many instances where lawyers have departed from common sense and their own practical training. There are so many things I could tell, but that would be telling...