I was once on an interview, and the partner of the firm told me, “I leave the office at 4:30 pm every day, and if you have finished what you are working on, I see no reason why you should stay around just to stay around, you should go home. Also, I don’t work on the weekend….and neither should you.” I started looking around the room for the hidden cameras, and I immediately thought it was a set up because I had never experienced a supervisor being so open and courteous about work/life balance. I was lucky to get a job with that culture to say the least!
Must Read: CHICK CHAT: Your Attitude Can Make Or Break Your Career I have only worked either for myself and/or for small firms that do not require extensive work hours. However, I have several girlfriends who work in finance or in Big Law and, they either have to meet a deadline and/or knock out some upcoming projects, they have been asked to give up their personal weekend time at the request of their supervisors.
Weekend office visits are almost guaranteed in particular industries and at specific levels in your career. An educator may not be required to come in to teach on a weekend, a banker and/or lawyer may be called upon more often to do so. How should one handle such request to give up their personal time when 40+ hours have already been given a week?
Well, it depends on the company and your career goals.
I had a conversation this weekend with one of my girlfriends who has been practicing law for over eight years. She was asked by a partner at her firm to be on call on Saturday. She informed him on Thursday that for three particular hours on Saturday, she would not be available because she had previous plans, but anytime thereafter she would be able to work on the deal.
Guess when he called her? You got it! He called her during that three hour period she specifically said she was not available, and he wondered why she did not pick up the phone. She eventually ended up speaking with him, got the notes she needed to alter the agreement she was working on and all was well. However, my friend was very upset at the fact that the partner expected her to be not only on call, but also in the office waiting on him, when she specifically told him she could not for three specific hours.
Must Read: Why Don’t African-American Women Get Equal Pay For Equal Work?
She also expressed that during her first three years as an Associate in Big Law, she would keep her phone by her side at all times, checking it even while showering to make sure she did not miss a call from any of the partners at her firm. She would regularly go into the office on Saturdays and Sundays to work, even if only for a couple of hours because that is what is expected of new hires in Big Law. However, she feels that she has reached a level in her legal career where she should be afforded the luxury of her very own uninterrupted personal time.
Expecting to be on call on the weekends is something that should be discussed during the information and interviewing process. If the position you are hired for and the company you work for expect and/or require you to work on the weekend, it is better to receive that information before you accept the gig. If working on the weekend is something new, that only happens once in a blue moon, it may be a good idea to suck it up, take one for the team and keep it moving. In the end, open and honest communication about company expectations and your willingness to adhere may be necessary to avoid any resentment from your boss and/or yourself.
Rashida Maples, Esq. is Founder and Managing Partner of J. Maples & Associates (www.jmaplesandassociates.com). She has practiced Entertainment, Real Estate and Small Business Law for 9 years, handling both transactional and litigation matters. Her clients include R&B Artists Bilal and Olivia, NFL Superstar Ray Lewis, Fashion Powerhouse Harlem’s Fashion Row and Hirschfeld Properties, LLC.
LIKE HelloBeautiful On Facebook!
More Women In The Workplace:
SHE WORKS: Two Sisters Revolutionize, Empower & Inspire Through Creative Event Production
Women Are Better Leaders Than Men In The Workplace
Check Out This Gallery!
