Meredith Connell's long-serving staff member Joan Taylor may be in her seventies, but she hasn't let that prevent her from playing a valuable role in the company.
Joan began work at Auckland law firm, Meredith Connell, as a secretary way back in 1949 at the age of seventeen.
"After five years I got married and I left, as most women did in those days," she explains. "I had six children. Then, in 1971, when my youngest was eight years old, I answered an advertisement for a job in a law firm through an employment agency. I discovered that the firm was none other than Meredith Connell. I went back to work for them again, this time in the accounts department and for only three days a week."
Joan continued to work three days a week until recently when the accounts department was down-sized. "If I'd been working anywhere else, I'm sure I'd have been made redundant, but instead I was offered a library job and an archiving position."
After a while Joan found that dealing with the archive boxes became "a bit much for me". In mid-2005, and aged 73, she proposed to the company that she reduce her hours to two days a week. "They're very flexible," she says. "The company has always had a great spirit. They've created a family-type atmosphere here. I've found it a very good place to work."
Joan's current job includes dealing with a large volume of library mail and filing the loose leaf legal publications for the company's law library. She also distributes current library information to keep staff up to date with law changes.
Twelve years ago Joan's husband died. "If I hadn't been working, there would have been a big gap in my life. The company was very supportive to me when he died. The partners told me I could return to work when I was ready, in whatever capacity suited me. I love the companionship here of people of different ages. I enjoy the contact with young people especially; it keeps me feeling alive. It's satisfying to still be part of the workforce, even if it's in a limited capacity."
Joan continues to work two days a week. One of the days is a Tuesday so that she is available when part-time contract librarian Suzanne Dowling comes into the office. A self-employed law librarian who contracts her services to a number of law firms, Suzanne works at the company only on Tuesdays and supervises Joan's work. Joan can choose which other day of the week she works.
"I know that Meredith Connell really values Joan," says Suzanne. "We work well together and agree on most things. It's not a one way-street as far as the company is concerned. It works for both parties. Joan gives something back to the company. She's very thorough, capable and reliable."
The advantage for Joan of reducing her hours to two days per week is that she can gradually build up her outside interests not only to maintain a balanced work and home life but also to prepare for the day when she chooses to stop work. The flexibility in her working hours has given her the freedom to become involved with the University of the Third Age (U3A), an international organisation which aims to provide educational stimulus and support for older people.
Meredith Connell has 142 partners and staff and says it has always been supportive of family culture. The company believes it is the cornerstone of maintaining a sense of proportion and balance, given the stressful nature of the work undertaken by its staff.
Fostering good work-life balance has always been the primary focus of its EEO policy. Joan Taylor's phased retirement working conditions reflect a company policy of accommodating flexible working practices for all staff, including offering the option of part-time work for professional staff and partners. Meredith Connell also implemented paid parental leave in 2003. It offers support for study fees and leave, free conveyancing services, subsidised weekly yoga and annual free flu vaccinations. Joan takes advantage of the yoga classes and reckons that she more than keeps up with younger staff members.
The company says that its significant growth in recent years has been assisted by high staff morale and low staff turnover. It calculates that its excellent staff retention saves the firm at least $600,000 a year.