Community Chat

[RedTop]

Yes, it amazes me how people work things out in their heads and convince themselves this is the way they're going to do it, and then get mad when they find out that is not the way things are done in the real world.   Major surprise when there's already an established protocol for that situation.    

[Allegheny]

Oh...I can't get out of my head the Rollingstone's lyrics,

"No, you can't always get what you want."

This woman was old enough to know how to properly approach the situation, which I am sure happens in business all the time.  

Considering her position, her assuming she could dictate the terms was quite a bold and self centered judgement error.  Let her be huffy, she will get over it and hopefully (though I doubt it) reflect on how to approach things differently in the future.

KathyPet, I understand your daughter's frustration, many of us have experienced the same.

[Graciesmom]

I retired after 40 years in law firms ...  It is like anything right now ...  Cut throat and evolving ...  In my last law firm they were slowly replacing secretaries with paralegals who perform both positions.  There are few businesses not eliminating jobs.  Even at the grocery store or Target just look around and see how many cashiers have been replaced by self serve stations.  We are told self serve will hurry along your time in line but in fact they are eliminating a cashier.  I was told even those positions are now all part time.  The savings are not passed on to us, but used to enrich stockholders.  I was very, very fortunate to work in the legal profession all those years ...  I had a high school education but was paid very, very well for my legal experience for many years with outstanding benefits and 6 weeks of vacation.  I am grateful to have worked when times were good because I don't know what you do today ...  You leave high school with no real skills ...  In my day you had a commercial degree you could pursue, but I am told high schools offer that no longer.  I think now you need to roll with the punches ... it doesn't seem fair to have a trained, experienced paralegal educate a new hire with no legal training, but life isn't fair any longer !!  Your daughter sounds like an asset to any law firm ...  I hope she is happy in her position !!  I did love my job ...

[itsmagic]

That has to be very frustrating for your daughter spending all that time training a new employee and having to work overtime because of it.

I don't think this new employee should have left in a huff though. When I was working I always knew that when I gave my 2 weeks' notice I needed to be prepared for being let go immediately. So it never bothered me if I was. Plus I don't believe in burning bridges when leaving a job. 

[SeaMaiden]

It is the way today's young generation are...they are all selfish and thoughtless...the me me me generation. They have no pride in themselves and have no consideration for anyone else. 

[missy1]

I wouldn't have them told them where I was going, just give the resignation paper.

[SahmIam]

My state is a hire/fire at will; neither the employee nor the employer has to give any notice or reason as to why one is leaving/fired.

Out of courtesy, I always gave 2 weeks notice. Sometimes the employer had me stay the entire time (one asked me to stay an extra week due to training the new person), some said you can leave now. 

I don't see the issue with the newbie doing what she did; being miffed about not staying might have been that in her experience, the "norm" is to stay and be paid. Who knows.

[Say Nay]

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@KathyPet wrote:

My daughter is the head paralegal at a firm of patent lawyers.  Recently they hired a new Jr. Paralegal.  Since it was a Jr. Position they did not require prior patent law experience.  The woman they hired was in her late 20's with no patent law experience.  My daughter had to train her.  Now all of you who have ever had to train a new employee know that when you are training someone you cannot get your work done nearly as quickly because you have to slow down and explain what you are doing in detail.  The first week goes by and the training will last another week.  Meanwhile my daughter is staying late so she can keep up with her work load.  The following Monday this new employee walks in and notifies my daughter that she is resigning because she received a offer from another law firm that she had also interviewed with when she was interviewing with my daughter's firm and the second offer is closer to her home.   Now here's the kicker.  She gave two weeks notice.  HEr new job start date was two weeks away so she actually thought she could stay at my daughter's firm for the two weeks so she would get paid until her new job started.  Now remember she is in training and has not done a lick of work on her own.  Her training would last another week so she expects to be able to stay and continue to be trained for a job she is never going to do there while my daughter takes her time from her work to do this.   Needless to say the hiring attorney told her she could simply leave immediately and no she was not getting paid for the two weeks notice time.  My daughter said she got quite huffy when she was told to hit the bricks.

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I don't understand why you're amazed. She got another job that is closer to her home so she took it. She gave two weeks notice which is standard. The firm decided to terminate her employment rather than continue the training. Nothing unusual here. 

[itiswhatitis]

First and foremost, the new employer in training didn't have to give any notice.  In at will employment situations she can leave when she wants.  It is customary (and seen as a bit of a plus) in terms of work ethic to do so though.

Employers don't give their employees two weeks notice.  I've never known too many to do this except where they are letting you go through downsizing and ask you to remain to stay to train new hires.  Of course, an exiting employee doesn't have to do this either.  They won't get paid for it though.

[Moonchilde]

This scenario is very typical where I lived. Professionals (doctors, lawyers, etc.) newly graduated, licensed, certified or whatever always apply multiple places so they will likely have A job, even if it isn't their ideal job. Then when THE job opens up, there is nary a qualm about bailing to accept it.  I do think she was very naive and entitled to assume she could stay and be paid. More free training? Riiiight...