How to really address this issue?

[Kurlie]

The firm that I work for is mostlly white, only two black people out of a staff of 35 in this office alone. (never really count how much throughout the entire firm, but it's not much).

Now my position is floater/legal assistant (50/50). Whenever the assistants are out I am the one that fill in. Now, there are various practices and to be honest, I wasn't trained in most of them, but they hired me anyway. Apart from being a floater I have my own attorney that I work for ( no training in that field either, but they still hired me) Majority of the Assistants only work with one attorney because of the work load.

Now, if an Assistant is out I have to do their work plus take care of my attorney's work and sometimes it can be confusing going from one area of law to the next at the same time.

These attorneys expect me to be this miracle worker and fill in for their assistants with the same knowledge and experience, which is impossible for me to know exactly whats going on with each case after being there sometimes one or two days.

Now, three of them especially complaint constantly to the adminstrator and use insulting comments or suggestions that make it seem as if I am imcompetent or dumb. The last time this happen was last week and it was so bad I was in tears. I took the matter to the manager and all she can tell me is to develop a thick skin. (the problems are not being addressed properly)

Another issue went down today with the "other black person" and because of it a staff meeting is being call for this friday with the head of HR.

How do I bring this to the table since its regarding attorneys and not supporting staff members?

[annshan2]

Re: How to really address this issue?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kurlie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The firm that I work for is mostlly white, only two black people out of a staff of 35 in this office alone. (never really count how much throughout the entire firm, but it's not much).

Now my position is floater/legal assistant (50/50). Whenever the assistants are out I am the one that fill in. Now, there are various practices and to be honest, I wasn't trained in most of them, but they hired me anyway. Apart from being a floater I have my own attorney that I work for ( no training in that field either, but they still hired me) Majority of the Assistants only work with one attorney because of the work load.

Now, if an Assistant is out I have to do their work plus take care of my attorney's work and sometimes it can be confusing going from one area of law to the next at the same time.

These attorneys expect me to be this miracle worker and fill in for their assistants with the same knowledge and experience, which is impossible for me to know exactly whats going on with each case after being there sometimes one or two days.

Now, three of them especially complaint constantly to the adminstrator and use insulting comments or suggestions that make it seem as if I am imcompetent or dumb. The last time this happen was last week and it was so bad I was in tears. I took the matter to the manager and all she can tell me is to develop a thick skin. (the problems are not being addressed properly)

Another issue went down today with the "other black person" and because of it a staff meeting is being call for this friday with the head of HR.

How do I bring this to the table since its regarding attorneys and not supporting staff members? </div></div>
bwoy yu know is de same job mi do too and is ongly 2 blacks dere including miself and is same way dem gwan more time mi haffi tell dem off

[MarieK]

Re: How to really address this issue?

check yuh pm in about 2 minutes

[MarieK]

Re: How to really address this issue?

dayummmmm Annshan, girl welcome to the club. I've worked as a floater and I have experienced the same thing, then I was placed and got an email fr. the boss asking me to water his plants, tidy his office and throw out his garbage, to which I replied "I'll check to see if my maid is available, you see she does those things for me so I am unable to comprehend exactly what is you are asking, hey but I'd be happy to bates stamp a pleading for you, how about typing a document or two, I type 97 words per minute" needless to say I quit that job.

mi soon come back wid more

[annshan2]

Re: How to really address this issue?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mrs. MarieK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">dayummmmm Annshan, girl welcome to the club. I've worked as a floater and I have experienced the same thing, then I was placed and got an email fr. the boss asking me to water his plants, tidy his office and throw out his garbage, to which I replied "I'll check to see if my maid is available, you see she does those things for me so I am unable to comprehend exactly what is you are asking, hey but I'd be happy to bates stamp a pleading for you, how about typing a document or two, I type 97 words per minute" needless to say I quit that job.

mi soon come back wid more </div></div>
well mi cuss out dem an tell dem sey dem nasty all wan yu fi clean up wen dem finish dem lunch wid de bones like a restaurant dem deh [censored] upset mi

[Kurlie]

Re: How to really address this issue?

I understand that this position that I have, a Jamaican girl was in it and the manager tell her that when she has some "down" time she should dust the offices and water the plants. Me hearsay she light up her baxside and tell her sey her mumma neva sen her go school fi come clean no office. She tek her bag and step the same day.

[annshan2]

Re: How to really address this issue?

pon mi review lass year dem sey mi chat back to dem mi sey tell mi a who sey so mek a lite up dem nasty [censored], and mi mek sure tell dem sey mi can pack mi bag and leff any time and mi looking fi wuk now

[MarieK]

Re: How to really address this issue?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kurlie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I understand that this position that I have, a Jamaican girl was in it and the manager tell her that when she has some "down" time she should dust the offices and water the plants. Me hearsay she light up her baxside and tell her sey her mumma neva sen her go school fi come clean no office. She tek her bag and step the same day. </div></div>

Yes kurlie, a suh dem renk. One asked me to go pick up his daughter's clothes from teh cleaners. Mi wid mi big big degree ennuh, mi sweetly tek di money grab mi bag and head dung to the office manager office an gi har di money an di ID

I've been asked how my marriage will affect my job. I've even been asked "why is it important for you to go out to lunch daily"

[Kurlie]

Re: How to really address this issue?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mrs. MarieK</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kurlie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I understand that this position that I have, a Jamaican girl was in it and the manager tell her that when she has some "down" time she should dust the offices and water the plants. Me hearsay she light up her baxside and tell her sey her mumma neva sen her go school fi come clean no office. She tek her bag and step the same day. </div></div>

Yes kurlie, a suh dem renk. One asked me to go pick up his daughter's clothes from teh cleaners. Mi wid mi big big degree ennuh, mi sweetly tek di money grab mi bag and head dung to the office manager office an gi har di money an di ID

I've been asked how my marriage will affect my job. I've even been asked "why is it important for you to go out to lunch daily" </div></div>

but dem nuh ask how you job will affect your marriage

[Suesumba]

Re: How to really address this issue?

damm, dust office indeed? we have it pretty good here, perhaps you should address the issue with the HR person. here, the policy is if i go away two days before me and lawyer guy get the same e-mail, something like:

"Suzette Snail will be your replacement for the week of August 5-10. Suzette has experience in Securities, Real Estate and Litigation. Please do not expect Suzette to know everything your regular assistant does and be patient".

Maybe you could suggest something of the sort.

as for dusting, if we want stuff dusted the night cleaners do that. what the hell kinda shop dat deh? there has to be some houskeeping staff in the building you're at? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70456-eyebrows.gif[/img]

[Kurlie]

Re: How to really address this issue?

Sue, they do have house keeping that comes in at night, but a faceity the gal faceity. bottomline is they expect us to keep busy fi the full 8 hours and if there is nothing on our desk to do at this miniute find something else and do.

I like that email idea though

[Suesumba]

Re: How to really address this issue?

kurlie, do you have your resume ready and pan cack? you may want to try working for a larger firm. small firms suck the bag.

[Kurlie]

Re: How to really address this issue?

oh yeah, it good and ready..this firm is large the office i'm at is just a satelite office.