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Original poster

Nervous about work situation - what should I best do? Particularly lawyers help please

30 replies

lisalisa · 08/09/2004 16:13

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employmentlawyer · 08/09/2004 16:39

Lisalisa, how horrible. Will try to post later if no one esle has helped. Got deadline!

Original poster
lisalisa · 08/09/2004 16:41

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TurnAgainCat · 08/09/2004 17:08

I would say that now that you have been back 3 months, it is the right time to address this head on with them, and make a direct comparision between your own caseload and that of the new recruit. How does your seniority compare with his? You may become vulnerable to dismissal on performance grounds, or redundancy, if you let this situation drift on. I think that if your requests for more work have not been in writing, you need to put your concerns in writing now, if possible involving HR, but in a softly softly way, with the tone of, "I just can't understand why this pattern is occurring, when I am so keen and enthusiastic and committed to my job," rather than a whingeing, potential sex discrimination litigant tone. Two maternity leaves in three years is a big chunk of time away. What steps were taken to reintegrate you and build up your practice when you returned? Did you get back your old clients each time? Do you mind if I ask whether you have now completed your family?

employmentlawyer · 09/09/2004 10:27

Hi, Sorry not to get back sooner Lisalisa. I agree with Tunrnagaincat as to the practical steps you should now be taking. I cannot imagine they are unaware of your billing. What you want to do is show that you are a valuable resource and they should be making better use of you. If you think the situation is likely to be going somewhere irretrievable, it is much better that you find another job you are interested in and move when you can than wait until it falls apart and bring a sex discrimination claim. It sounds like that is what you are planning anyway and I think you are very wise. Litigation is basically a mug's game (says the lawyer). Post again if there is anything else you think we should know. Also do make notes of meetings you have as soon as possible after the meeting, just in case. Good luck!

Original poster
lisalisa · 09/09/2004 10:38

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Original poster
lisalisa · 09/09/2004 10:39

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employmentlawyer · 09/09/2004 10:43

By the way lisalisa, it may be that we don't know enough about the facts for these suggestions to make sense in your particular circumstances. You might want to sit down with an employment solicitor (do you have any useful contacts?) and chat through your situation - not because you necessarily want to do anything drastic but just to get some general advice on a more informed basis.

employmentlawyer · 09/09/2004 10:43

Sorry - posts crossed a bit there...

Original poster
lisalisa · 09/09/2004 11:03

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bunnyrabbit · 09/09/2004 11:15

Lilsalisa,
Take a deep breath and let it out. This is a very stressfull time and it's not surprising that it affecting you emotionally. I can't add anything to what's already been said except my sympathy fortyou situation and a bit {{hug}} to try and make you feel better.

Tania
PS Oh and eat some chocolate.

Original poster
lisalisa · 09/09/2004 11:50

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bunnyrabbit · 09/09/2004 12:28

Do you know, after nearly two years of using mumsnet this is the first time I have ever accidentally signed with my real name!

Well there you go. A bunny and 4 kids.. far more important than your work. What happens will happen, whether you stress or not, so try to think about your lovely family instead. I have pictures of DS everywhere that I look at whenever I'm feeling stressed.

BR

Original poster
lisalisa · 09/09/2004 14:33

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MummyToSteven · 09/09/2004 14:37

lisalisa - as a soon to be former solicitor (just drafted my letter of resignation!) i would say that they are likely to pull up your billing figures before your review anyway, so I don't think that there is any point trying to slide over the lack of work. I think the starting point is to try and getting a subtle idea of who is allocating the work to the new assistant rather than you, and why it is not being shared 50/50. Otherwise if the work isn't there, could you try and move into more of know-how/supervisory/marketing role, and get your billing targets reduced? Off the top of my head, it sounds like the potential for a sex discrimination claim - however that's not really a road you want to go down

Marina · 09/09/2004 14:43

Sounds like you are getting some good advice from women in the know, lisalisa. Although I work in the heart of EC2 my work environment is so different from what you corporate gals have to endure and at times it makes me spit to hear it. No advice but lots of luck and sympathy.

Wills · 09/09/2004 14:45

Lisalisa, whilst I can't offer you any information I can give you my sympathy. I'm in a similar position at work. I left after leading 3 very prominent teams successfully and delivering my IT projects. I was "passed over" for my bonus during my maternity leave and have returned to find they have given my job away and they have nothing else. I'm currently performing temporary roles whilst they try to find me something, however in the nearly 2 months since my return they have only offered me seriously junior roles (I was a senior IT manager) and I know that a case is being built to make me redundant. I don't want to hijack your thread! Just wanted to let you know that its not just you and that there are others and hope that makes you feel slightly better. Hope you see what I mean. I'll watch the thread but as I'm not a lawyer I don't have much to add in terms of advice. Good luck - Bastards!

Original poster
lisalisa · 09/09/2004 14:50

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Wills · 09/09/2004 15:44

Its particularly demoralizing to see them advertising and interviewing for jobs that I know I can do. I'm getting to see my boss for the first time tomorrow (after all I've only been back 7 weeks and his office is a full 10 meters away from my desk) and I will finally have an opportunity to ask him directly about these other roles. I know I have a case should I wish to pursue but I don't because the stress it would put my family under is too much. I read in the FT about the glass cliff effect on Tuesday - Oh how true! I'm currently temping doing things that all others have failed at and am of course being successful! Oh blast I've waffled - sorry!

Original poster
lisalisa · 09/09/2004 16:00

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Wills · 09/09/2004 16:16

Now I am hijacking your thread. Basically no. I know I should but I'm doing a very good impression of a stunned rabbit in the middle of car headlight beams .

MummyToSteven · 09/09/2004 16:21

LisaLisa - financially I really oughtn't to be resigning - things are pretty lean but as long as we can pay the mortgage, bills and eat on dh's salary we should make it through the next year or two, touch wood but for the sake of DS and my sanity, I just don't want to go back to an environment I wasn't very happy in before having DS.

I agree that the starting point is to pin down someone who will be responsible for you as a manager - at the end of the day it is a manager (i.e partners job) to make sure the work allocation is sensible rather than leaving you to stew- I know from experience how frustrating it is to work for all and sundry, and how difficult to get anyone to take overall responsibility. Best of luck

WideWebWitch · 09/09/2004 19:59

Wish I had some advice for both of you but other than a) put it all in writing and b) avoid action since it's horribly stressful,both of which you both already know, I haven't got anything to add. How horrible for you and like Marina, it makes me want to spit too.

sis · 09/09/2004 20:17

Hey, www, you're getting the message about putting it in writing!

Wills and Lisalisa, whilst I understand your reasons for not persuing a sex discrimination claim, they don't know that so please use it as a bargaining tool!

WideWebWitch · 09/09/2004 20:34

Sis, sweetie, I was only saying it because you hadn't yet!

Wills · 09/09/2004 22:10

Now that I'm home I can be a little more blatant. I know I'm heading towards redundancy. I'm trying to walk a very fine line where I let them know I know they're treating me like shit without pushing it so far that they take action. I work for the bank that recently got hit hard at the courts by one of the female traders in EXACTLY the same position as me. A consequence of this is that they are giving me as many course as I could ask for. I'm also using all my copious spare time to try and learn French and investment banking. I shall start looking around mid October.