Does anyone deal with constant disrespect in the workplace due to their age ? It’s crazy how secretaries are placed on a pedestal here because they are older and I guess have been here longer? But it’s becoming so draining. Beyond the petty things, I requested off for an event months ago and am now being told I may need to come in because the secretary requested off too( even though I told her about the day off months ago. For background there is an alleged rule that we cannot both be off)

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If you’re still clerking, you are probably the low man on the totem pole, and the secretary has probably been more valuable to the firm for much longer, and if it’s anything like my last firm, maybe even longer than you’ve been alive.

Even 2nd and 3rd year associates are less favored than long time support staff at most firms.

It’s not great, but it’s a reality at most firms. Best thing to do is take this one on the chin and hope you can build a relationship with this and other secretaries. Maybe next time one will cover so you can take off, and in my experience the support staff will go further for you if you build a relationship with them.

I’d still say something to a partner, it’s not great that they stiffed your vacation.

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Agree Aa1, it is odd and the management should do better to make sure expectations are solidified and deadlines are accounted for so that their employees are not “on call” when they want to take vacation. (Also very odd for the law clerk to be the on call one - usually it’s some poor second or third year).

I wanted to address the dynamic for OP because I thought the same way when I was a law clerk and first year, before someone candidly explained to me that I am far less important than most senior support staff.

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F that if you requested first months ago I would tell you have plans and won’t be coming in, but will happily help anyone else prepare for that time

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Say you requested off months ago (hopefully you kept a paper trail) and stand your ground. This is not your problem if you took the correct steps to provide your superiors with notice. When I was a clerk, I dealt with this same shit and wish I would’ve been more aggressive in not letting this happen.

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Thanks all I really appreciate the perspective

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