2/12/08
Free milkshakes really do make everything better
I stopped by Steak 'n' Shake on the way home at 8:00 tonight. I had eaten only a Snickers and a granola bar all day and I was looking forward to drowning my troubles in a greasy cheeseburger. When I got the the window, the chipper girl collecting the cash asked if I'd had a great day. And because I had, in fact, had a rather crappy day, I answered no. So she gave me a free chocolate milkshake. And it really did make me feel better--ok, actually it made me want to cry that someone was being nice to me. I heart Steak 'n' Shake.
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3 comments:
This sudden shift in their behavior is very strange. It's almost like they're testing your loyalty. You were right to put named partner's work first, but the other partner wouldn't have liked to hear that. Not sure how to handle that when it's attorney-to-attorney, but maybe the associates on the list have some tips. Good luck!!! Hope they ease up on you soon. The checking your hours thing is really weird!!! Are there a lot of men at your firm? Sometimes the men (esp. in the state you're in) tend to treat all women like staff...
I'm an associate (first year) at a big firm in a small practice group, and I am never treated that way. In situations where I have multiple assignments from multiple partners with competing priorities, I just let the partners know and they work it out amongst themselves. Always politely, of course, but it is their job to figure out who gets priority. The result is that I'm told to either hold off on partner B's work or it gets handed off to someone with more time. Otherwise I just work on the project with the earliest deadline - the partners all know this (for the most part). Your situation could be a bit different since they're not used to managing first year associates. I guess the issue is whether you're willing to tolerate their behavior and for how long, if it does not get better. Good luck.
I'm at biglaw and I've gotten the same before. What I've learned from personal expereince (and the kind suggestion of others) is that I should NEVER NEVER NEVER suggest that someone else's work was given priority and the reason a certain project is not done. The best thing to do is (1) just be good at taking on exactly what you can handle - not always easy and (2) if someone asks for the answer and you're not ready, pretend that you've worked on it extensively and the answer is where you have it currently. I know it's weird, but here, you will get the greatest wrath from putting someone else first. Stupid self-absorbed pricks.
I hope things get better for you.
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