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Mentor
Toxic law firm behavior at its best. Start looking for a new role elsewhere. I promise all firms aren’t like this. In the meantime keep your head down and keep working.
You not asking for more money when you were frustrated with the work load is not anyone’s fault but your own. Closed mouths don’t get fed. While I agree that her behavior was unprofessional and probably hostile, it seems like you’re making it about you because you are unhappy too. Unfortunately longevity doesn’t always come with the highest pay, most people get the best salaries from job hopping every couple years. The problem doesn’t seem to be your co worker, it’s the firm. Being 3-4 paralegals short is clearly burning out staff. Maybe you’re okay with your work and pay however not everyone has to be. Sometimes higher compensation makes a stressful workload much more worth it. Sometimes it’s flexibility, or not being micromanaged. Everyone is different but as someone in the field, there’s nothing more infuriating than a coworker comparing workloads and getting upset at how much someone could be making or what they’re doing/not doing. If you feel like you’re not getting paid enough for your work, keep others out of it and speak up for yourself or go somewhere that has better pay. Be angry at the right people, your superiors.
Im also a person of color. Just thought I’d get that out of the way.
She proceeds to screenshot the conversation to another paralegal( both are white- this is important) and the paralegal still in the office replies and says “you should meet to see if you can get more [money]” and she comes to my desk and shows me the conversation (I’m black, next in line for head paralegal and have been at this firm for 5+ years than everyone else.) I asked more what? She told me that she told the OM how my dept is treated unfairly (all others in my dept take advantage and call out constantly for false things but that is another story!) how she is pissed that we don’t have OT but are overwhelmed with work (she has 1/3 of the case load I have and I’m fine!) but then agrees to come back to this “poorly run and poor condition dept”. She comes back Monday. I’ve brought up real issues before and how I felt unappreciated and I did this in a professional manner, in a private meeting with partners and all I got out of it was “don’t quit we need you and they’ll work with me to allow a very flexible schedule should I need it etc). Never once did I ask for MORE. I recently found out that all the other paralegals (under 5 years experience) are making just about the same as me. I am the only person of color.
How am I supposed to react when I see the discrepancy in treatment with the team v. me, rate of pay, and now the begging for the white co worker to come back and act like disrespecting ANYONE in the office is acceptable. I know that if it were me throwing the tantrum, I’d be fired before I had the chance to “quit” and I sure as hell wouldn’t have been asked to come back…
How should I handle this? Should I just start looking for a new firm and just stay silent or should I actually stand up and say something?
I would look elsewhere. I’m white, but I’ve seen the racism firsthand at some of these firms. My good friend is black (she is also my coworker again at our current firm) and I worked at a firm together about 15 yrs ago. She’s a STELLAR paralegal and was constantly passed up for cases that were given to others who did what I considered to be average work. Pretty easy to see why. Fast forward to today and she is basically the head paralegal at our job (we don’t have the titles and it’s just she and I), but she found a firm that sees her for the employee that she is. You have to find a place that sees your talent, appreciates you for your work, and doesn’t play favorites and allow poor behavior because of skin color. They are out there. Best of luck to you, but I would definitely start looking. That place sounds toxic.
Toxic. Wasn’t completely certain of what you were trying to convey in your message, but it sounds like there may be multiple issues going on at the workplace. As others have said, start looking for a new job!
Do you have an update on the situation?
They begged her to come back. She came back and never returned after her lunch…
To be clear- I have voiced my opinions regarding pay and they’re working on making it fair. I was given an out of sequence raise. We’re still “short staffed” but I’m training 2 newbies so hopefully they stay.
One of the reasons I am very hesitant of going back to a law firm. I’d rather take contract work and work remotely. Than be in-office and have to deal with these type of situations. Goodluck!
Exactly! Did you open up your own paralegal services or get clients via Upwork?