Interview Transcript Extract – True Colors: Clearing the Way For a New Culture

• Company: Hoge Fenton
• Contact: Sblend Sblendorio
• Title: Attorney
• Website: https://www.hogefenton.com/
• Founded: 1952
• Headquarters: San Jose, CA
• Locations: San Jose, CA; Pleasanton, CA
• Number of offices: 2
• Company size: 51-200 employees
• Interview date: 2/7/2020

In order to maintain a compassionate culture, compassion is one of the criteria Hoge Fenton looks for when hiring new employees.

Sblend reflects back that years ago a number of employees were just out for themselves.  It wasn’t until those more self-focused/aggressive employees left that the rest of the team was able to express their compassionate nature.

One example is a partner who always voted against new ideas without giving a real reason.

Sblend says, “And we never understood why. It’s one thing to say, ‘I disagree.’ It’s another thing to say why you disagree. And he would give reasons that just didn’t make sense. And he was always one on the outside.”

A second example is of a partner who was asking for more pay, even though he was not producing the billable work to earn the increase.

“He was clearly slowing down, but he wouldn’t admit it. He kept asking us for more money. It was like, you’re billing not even 1000 hours and you’re living half time somewhere else. We told him we’re not following why you’re asking us for more when we’re getting half of you.”

A third example is an employee whose only concern was for advancement.

“She would bill, bill, bill. She made a lot of money, made a lot of money for herself, but she just abused people, screamed and shouted at staff, associates.”

After these employees left the company, they noticed a big difference.

“They sort of colored the rest of us. And when they left our truer feelings were able to be more prominent.”  It was no longer just win-lose all the way around.

Employees are compassionate and they make sure everyone is getting their fair share.

The company is now community-minded and encourages employees to join and participate in organizations.  If it’s a “give to play” situation, the company will buy a table or otherwise support the cause their employees are passionate about.

They also encourage employees to come talk to them if they’re not sure how to get started or how they can support their cause.  For example, one partner started a charity to get children off the streets.  He wanted to trade for fees and wasn’t sure how to get started.  The company helped walk him through how to approach a situation like this.

“We just say if you’re passionate about it, and you think that there’s some benefit to the community, then go for it. We’ll help you do it and figure out how to do it.”

The company has touchstones that encourage this culture.  The touchstones are posted on poster boards in their learning rooms and break rooms.