Linklaters Service Delivery Centre Warsaw: a friendly, people-centered workplace
Country: Poland | Friendly Workplace Recognition: 2023
Linklaters Service Delivery Centre (LSDC) Warsaw was established in 2014 as a part of Linklaters – a leading London-headquartered global law firm qualified to a prestigious Magic Circle.
Starting with a small group of professionals we are now a flourishing organization, employing a few hundreds of individuals. In LSDC Warsaw we offer a wide range of global opportunities across various departments providing services to each office of Linklaters on its global map.
Linklaters Service Delivery Centre Warsaw – A Culture of Trust, Inclusion and Employee Development
Linklaters Service Delivery Centre Warsaw deserves recognition for its modern approach to organisational culture, built on values such as respect, diversity, inclusion, trust and collaboration. The organisation also demonstrates high standards in employee relations.
We particularly value Linklaters’ commitment to employee development, including opportunities for international career growth through its Global Talent Programme. Among the initiatives presented, Team University stands out as a particularly valuable project. Beyond expanding employees’ knowledge and skills, it strengthens internal connections and fosters relationships between colleagues from different teams.
We also appreciate the organisation’s commitment to employee health and wellbeing, reflected in its wellbeing initiatives, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and activities supporting preventive healthcare and healthy working practices. Equally noteworthy is its responsible approach to work-life balance, including flexible working hours and the promotion of an agile working environment.
Linklaters Service Delivery Centre Warsaw is a modern, inclusive and people-centred workplace where diversity, collaboration and a sense of belonging are valued. It provides an environment in which employees can develop professionally while building meaningful relationships and contributing to a supportive workplace community.
Assessment by the MarkaPracodawcy.pl editorial team.
Working at Linklaters
“At Linklaters, we foster a culture that encourages diversity, professional growth and impactful CSR initiatives. We support work-life balance through flexible working policies and are committed to sustainability in our environmentally conscious offices.
Receiving the Friendly Workplace® award is a testament to our commitment to creating a supportive, nurturing environment in which our team can flourish.
Overseeing our Warsaw office for the past decade has been an immense privilege and a source of great pride for me. We have achieved significant milestones during this time, thanks to the collective efforts of our dedicated team.
As we look to the future, I am excited about the opportunities for further growth and achievement, and confident that Linklaters Service Delivery Centre Warsaw will continue to make valuable contributions.”
Małgorzata Stachowicz
COO, Linklaters Service Delivery Centre Warsaw
Unlocking Potential, Empowering Progress: Linklaters’ Approach to Employee Development
At Linklaters, we pride ourselves on recruiting both seasoned professionals possessing a wealth of knowledge and young individuals entering the workforce who are eager to embark on their career journeys.
To support needs of young talents, we offer different options of internships and apprenticeships. Being aware that a fresh start in a new organization can be challenging for New Joiners regardless of whether they are fresh grads or seasoned professional, we wanted to make sure that all our new employees feel welcome and have a smooth start in their work in LSDCW.
That is why we introduced the buddy programme which is a knowledge-sharing method used to onboard new employees into the workplace.
Upon joining our organization, we foster an inclusive environment that encourages open discussions on career development, anchored by our performance and career development cycle. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive suite of resources such as internal and external trainings.
Moreover, at LSDCW, we are committed to nurturing our interns into full-fledged employees, that is why we try to foster internal integration and networking and promote potential opportunities for internal mobility and professional growth via transparent promotion of open vacancies as well as organizing events aiming at exchanging cross team knowledge.
Embracing Linklaters Culture: An Insight into Linklaters’ Values, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Commitment to Social Responsibility (CSR)
At Linklaters, our relentless pursuit of improvement and excellence is deeply ingrained in our culture. However, we understand that this journey is not driven by targets and incentives alone, but also by cultivating a positive, supportive, fair, and open work environment.
We value diversity and inclusion, and we challenge all forms of bias. We want our team members to feel a strong sense of belonging, which is fundamental to our unified approach and shared mindset. Our globally recognized core values include striving for excellence, respecting one another, leading through empowerment and innovation, acting with integrity, and fostering unity.
Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is an important part of our corporate strategy. The Linklaters Service Delivery Centre Warsaw (LSDCW) DEI Team comprises 10% of our employees. Its members are volunteers representing different functions who work together to raise awareness of DEI and implement initiatives that foster a diverse, inclusive, and safe environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.
Participation in the DEI Team also offers valuable opportunities for networking, engagement with senior stakeholders, collaboration with external organizations, project management experience, and driving meaningful organizational change.
To encourage greater understanding and discussion of DEI topics, we regularly provide educational opportunities covering diversity and inclusion, LGBTQ+ rights in Poland, and the experiences of transgender individuals both in and outside the workplace. We collaborate with journalists, activists, transgender advocates, and university faculty members. We also invite inspiring guest speakers to share their experiences and organize anti-discrimination workshops.
We ensure that our recruitment strategy reflects our commitment to building a diverse team. In line with our approach to gender representation, we have also introduced feminine forms of job titles in Polish-language employment contracts and position titles. Although this may seem like a small change, we consider it an important step and have observed positive responses from both employees and external candidates.
Beyond our internal organizational culture, LSDCW is committed to making a positive impact on local communities and the environment. We focus on grassroots initiatives that encourage individual involvement and create opportunities for meaningful social engagement.
Our Commitment to Social Responsibility programs include regular cooperation with the Good Initiatives Foundation (Fundacja Dobrych Inicjatyw), which runs an innovative educational initiative called Akademia Dobrych Inicjatyw (Academy of Good Initiatives).
Together, we developed LinksAcademy, a program designed to help children living in foster care facilities discover and develop their interests, passions, and talents. The initiative aims to inspire young people to improve their quality of life and consider future educational and career opportunities.
Our community initiatives also include support for senior citizens. One example is Business Goes Green, a tree-planting initiative organized by the local Fundacja Emeryt. During the event, we planted three four-meter-tall crabapple trees, distinguished by their dark purple leaves and pink blossoms that appear in spring.
The event also provided an opportunity for intergenerational connection and conversations about climate change. It brought together local residents, creating a welcoming space for relaxation, interaction, and new relationships.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, together with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), are deeply embedded in our organizational strategy and Employee Value Proposition. As reflected in our regular employee satisfaction surveys, our efforts in both areas are highly valued by our colleagues at Linklaters.
Embracing Linklaters Lifestyle: Where Work-Life Balance Meets Sustainability
At Linklaters, our people are our greatest asset, and their health and wellbeing are recognized as a critical business issue for the firm globally. Creating a working environment that supports, encourages, and promotes wellbeing is of paramount importance and a key part of the pioneering pillar of our refreshed firmwide strategy.
The focus of our global Health and Wellbeing Strategy is to help our people take responsibility for their physical and mental health and build their resilience. It also aims to guide our partners and leaders in supporting the health and wellbeing of their teams, recognizing and addressing signs of physical and mental ill health, and directing employees to the resources the firm provides.
We believe that truly listening to people makes them feel valued and understood. That is why we encourage conversations about mental health and emotions through one-on-one meetings, team discussions, global and local webinars, and internal communications. We also recognize that listening is a skill that requires continuous development, which is why we emphasize the importance of active listening.
We have also implemented an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support employees with everyday challenges. Whether they have a simple question or a complex concern, this service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing employees and their immediate family members with practical information and advice on health, family, legal, financial, and work-related matters.
At Linklaters, we understand that a healthy mind thrives in a healthy environment. That is why our commitment to mental wellbeing goes hand in hand with our dedication to maintaining an environmentally friendly office. Our facilities include modern, fully equipped workspaces, relaxation areas, and gyms.
We have automated our office spaces with energy-saving sensors that manage lighting, ventilation, and air conditioning, helping to significantly reduce energy consumption. We have also introduced measures to reduce paper usage by encouraging digital tools, electronic contracts, and electronic invoicing.
Our Think Before You Travel campaign encourages employees to consider their environmental impact when planning business trips and to choose online meetings whenever possible. We also actively raise awareness of environmentally responsible practices through initiatives such as European Week for Waste Reduction and World Environment Week.
As part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, we promote responsible shopping habits and share information about places where surplus food can be donated. We have also organized a food collection and food-sharing event in partnership with the charitable organization Daj Herbatę, which supports people experiencing homelessness.
