Are any of the hours you spend on marketing or internal committees counted as billable hours? What is your firm’s minimum required billable hours, and does that total include time spent on networking, marketing, or other internal activities like committee work?
2 Responses
It really depends on the policy of the firm. Some firms allow a portion of networking or marketing time to be counted towards billable hours, while others maintain a strict separation between billable and non-billable activities.
For example, in my firm, we have a set number of required billable hours, and while committee work and networking events are encouragingly supported, they are generally classified as non-billable. However, some of the hours spent on meaningful networking, particularly if it leads to new business, may be recognized in performance evaluations, even if they don’t directly count toward the billable target.
It’s always a good idea to check with your firm’s specific policies or to discuss with a supervisor if you have questions about how your time is categorized. What about your firm? How do they handle it?
This is a thought-provoking topic that many professionals grapple with. In my experience, the classification of marketing and internal committee hours as billable can vary significantly between firms. It’s essential to establish a clear understanding of what qualifies as billable work to ensure transparency and fairness both for staff and clients.
One thing to consider is the long-term value that marketing and networking efforts bring to the firm. While these activities may not directly generate revenue in the short term, they often lead to new client relationships and increased visibility, ultimately benefiting the firm’s bottom line. Therefore, it might be worthwhile for firms to reevaluate their billing policies and consider allowing some of these hours to count towards billable goals, or at least recognize them as valuable contributions in performance evaluations.
Furthermore, maintaining an open dialogue about these activities can empower staff, fostering a culture that appreciates and incentivizes proactive involvement in the firm’s growth. A well-defined framework that distinguishes between various types of contributions could help strike a balance between maintaining billable hour expectations and encouraging a holistic approach to firm development. How does your firm handle this, and have there been discussions about changing the current policy?