In a slightly unusual display of gratitude, Mishcon de Reya has given every staffer a twenty pound note.

Two weeks ago the firm's 750 lawyers and support staff were surprised to each receive an envelope containing a crisp £20. Apparently the partners had decided to celebrate the firm's financial year end by channeling your granny at Christmas.

    They don't ask much in return

Unfortunately at least one employee mistook the treat for their pay review. The insider told RollOnFriday that staff were expecting pay increase letters and there was "consternation amongst fee earners" when they were given £20 instead. The source, who may or may not be a member of support staff, said that in light of that perception the gift had been described as "utterly bizarre" and "incredibly insulting" and that there was, ahem, a "widespread belief that bigger amounts should have been given to support staff instead".

Dousing the fires of rebellion, a patient Mishcon spokeswoman said, "the partners wanted to acknowledge everyone's hard work at Year End and so this was just a small gesture – totally separate from pay reviews and other remuneration – intended to bring a smile. And for the resounding majority this is precisely what it did!"

If you'd rather your firm said thanks by popping you on its knee and giving you a Werther's Orignal, seek help.
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Comments

Roll On Friday 21 April 17 11:50

£20? How weird.

I thought it was going on to say they were given it to see how they could make it grow or give to charity or find the best way to invest it like a kind of little acorns into oaks experiment. There will be a biblical story on this or an aesop fable.

Anonymous 21 April 17 11:57

I remember Eversheds Birmingham used to give £50 to all staff at Christmas. Then the office merged with Nottingham and the practice was dropped. On the basis that the Nottingham office would not understand that sort of office culture.

Anonymous 28 April 17 09:00

It was the end of the financial year and just before the long weekend - it was a 'have a drink on us' gesture that was very well received and only an utter moron would have thought it was in lieu of a pay review or bonus. There was a note that explained this so, again, only a moron would thought otherwise.