This can't be a good sign

The law firm we've been working for recently got a new boss, as the company the law firm is working for got bought. Naturally, the new owner-client has brought in their own lawyers to run things. The firm we've been working for isn't fired, but things are, shall we say, in flux.

Which is why today it was announced that instead of a 7 am-9 pm work window five days a week, Fridays will be cut to 7 am to 6 pm "until we figure out what direction we're going to take." We can still work 60 hours a week, we'll just have to push harder earlier in the week to get there. So in that respect, this announcement has no impact. Also, since most people on the project don't work 60 hours, it really has no impact. Some of us are a little nervous, though.

First of all, as the initial move on this review by the new boss-man law firm, this is not good news. Obviously, how late we can work on Fridays has no bearin on "what direction we're going to take." It is a cost-cutting move, pure and simple. And since most folks on this project don't work the maximum, the new boss firm has no reason not to cut the maximum. Which means, if they are inclined that way, they will. And it appears that they are inclined that way.

Second, the new boss firm prefers to use direct-hire contract attorneys, not work through an agency. I know this, because I am registered with them as a direct-hire candidate. Direct-hire usually means more money per hour, but often no overtime. Depending on the hourly rate, the break-even point of higher wage versus overtime can favor the contract attorney, or punish the contract attorney. If they go that route, we'll have to see. Of course, we'll also have to see if people on the project now are the ones who get hired by the firm. Lots of uncertainty out there.

Ultimately; we have no idea what this means. It could mean nothing. But in Temp Town, downward adjustments to hours are never a good thing. We'll have to see where all this goes, but my natural pessimism about this industry just got pretty situation-specific.