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Fly day horror story...screaming child 😩
Bowl Leader
Hello All,
I have recently joined FIS Global around end of April. My mother recently met with an accident and she needs to be operated.
I haven't been able to update the anything regarding the insurance part yet on FIS portal.
Will my mother's treatment be covered under the insurance? If yes, what's the procedure for the same? What are the documents that I need to submit in order to claim the amount?
Can anyone please guide?
Chief
Hi fishes,
I am looking for wfh option for the coming 2-4 years as I have recently become a father and want to dedicate as much time as possible to my family.
Which companies are providing wfh options?
Currently working as data analyst with 3 years of experience Tata Consultancy Accenture India Atlassian Gartner Google Microsoft Nagarro KPMG Deloitte
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This is so relatable. I have two kids and just feel like I’m always screwing everything up. I’ve spent the past 2 years trying to find more time in my day to get more sleep or exercise or ANYTHING and it’s not working. And as supportive of families and parents as my firm is, I’m falling behind no matter what because I’m not billing as much. Don’t let this experience now make you feel like you’re not cut out for this. Success in big law as an associate trying to prove themselves and get reps and raising young kids is incompatible and that’s a truth I wish more people said out loud. But that does NOT mean you can’t be a kick ass lawyer. You’re just in a completely impossible season right now.
You’re so welcome. Most of the time Fishbowl is a toxic cesspool but sometimes it’s actually a wonderful place to get a beautiful reminder we’re actually not alone
I have two kids and always felt pressured to bill as if they don't exist. This mom feels for you.
This but also, with the price of things these days it’s a two-way street. I have two and making less than I do now feels impossible because of the cost of childcare and the need for household help. And even if I worked more of a 9 to 5 it’s hard to imagine suddenly having the time and energy to not have a cleaner/grocery delivery/pick you poison.
Strongly recommend going in house. As a fifth year in IP, you are prime to make the jump.
It’s not you, it’s the firm and nature of this work. Deadlines and work flow are often not in our control so boundaries are crossed.
The only person who will ever really understand is another working mom. Everyone else just simply won’t get it. Trying to get people who don’t have kids or men with stay at home wives to understand your dilemma is like trying to get water from a rock. I’m sorry- try to get them to honor your reduced schedule, but maybe consider switching firms to one that has a track record of working moms succeeding (which you can learn from career chats and networking with other working moms).
I just had my second and am going on a reduced schedule. I don’t know yet how it will go, but I am doing a lot of internal work on saying no. I suggest Cal Newport’s book Slow Productivity. It had some interesting action items that I am finding very useful in setting boundaries.
I’m also basically the same as my toddler, and I am seriously considering getting myself a sticker chart for every time I turn something down. And I get a massage or something after I meet a goal of a certain number of times I say no. (If it works it works 🤷♀️)
When going on a reduced schedule it’s important to set your own boundaries. Have you turned down work and said you’re supposed to be on a reduced schedule? The partners I work most with know I am, so they check in before staffing me on matters. But with new partners, if I need to turn down work because it’ll put me way over hours I have to let them know.
Do you at least get a true up at the end of the year for hours over your minimum?
It’s probably not that you’re not cut out to be an attorney, you just need to find a firm and group that’s more supportive of parents.
Then you’re not setting boundaries if they don’t stick, you’re asking/requesting. I get it’s uncomfortable but you need to be firmer. This is very common for reduced schedules as partners don’t care or often abide by them. I talk a lot with our counsels who are on reduced and it’s a common theme. But the other side is they’re all female and I think notoriously women worry too much about letting people down and just silently suffer. If you’re on track to bill 1800-1900 hours, you need to be more firmer with turning down work and more confident with your boundaries. But I think a good first step is talking with the partners since you’ll need to be trued up for bonus purposes.
I’m having a meeting this week with the practice chairs to discuss my workload, but I was already told my docket is “appropriate for someone at your level.” I was supposed to have a billable requirement of 1650 this year, but month after month I’m billing over 150 hrs. I’m so burned out and starting to wonder if I am cut out to be an attorney.
Chief
1,650 is still a very full time job. Talk to them about like 1,000 hours with one full day off per week.
hey girl! I went on a reduced hour arrangement this year, too, when my kiddos were about 3.5 and 1.5. It's SO hard to downshift and try to set boundaries without feeling like I'm failing in some way. That said--my firm is really supportive of the arrangement. If I told them I was drowning, they'd throw me a lifeline, not tell me that everyone's busy. That's a them problem, not a you problem. I know it isn't as easy as just magically finding a new firm, especially when you're in the season of growing a family. But there are places out there with excellent, accomplished lawyers who will value your contributions enough to honor the boundaries of the arrangement y'all agree on. So if you enjoy the practice of law, don't think you're not cut out for it. You may just need to find a firm with a better culture.
What year associate are you & what area of law?
Thank you! This is helpful. It’s been SO tough. I just hope I can come to an understanding with them.
If the firm is succeeding then it is busy. Perhaps the firm needs to hire additional attorneys, but hiring new attorneys comes with significant costs and risk. Firms make money by billing and salaries are paid proportionately to the value that an employee brings to the business. If you want a reduced workload, then explain that you are overloaded and are not doing your best work because you are overloaded. Remind them that you agreed to take a reduce workload and that you’re willing to take a pay cut if that’s what’s required to get a reduced workload.
They may not require you to pay to take a pay cut, but I am suspect that they will appreciate the fact that you offered to take one. On the other hand, they may say great will reduce your salary and we are going to hire ex person to come in and pick up the slack.