STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kari · Dooney & Bourke

Time to Rant...come one, come all...

Hermes

Kari wrote:

Holy Moly, I do not think there are words I can type to express my frustration. I am a fairly new attorney at a fairly old law firm. We have a trial starting Monday (our first trial in-state in over 4 years!). It is a pretty complicated case and lots and lots of work remains to be done. Translation: Every attorney in the office has been working 14 hour days for the past week. That means I haven't eaten dinner in days. I just snack on chips, candy that we have in the office. Well, after getting home at midnight last night, going to bed starving, I came to work this morning and walked across the street to get some breakfast items for me and others. I spent a whopping 14.00. A co-worker suggested I try to turn it in as a trial expense. So, I did. I got a letter back stating that our client will not pay for it and neither will the firm.

I can understand that, but if you aren't going to feed us...let us leave for 20 minutes and get some F-ing food once a day!!!!!!!!!

I may get fired over this, but I am leaving tonight to get food....not fast food, not food i pay for, I am going home (drive 20 minutes each way) to eat the food I already paid for that is sitting in my house! How can they expect me to work 14 hour days (on salary, no overtime) and not eat...or pay more money to eat fast food heart attack crap!

yeah that's one of the things that sucks about working long days. I keep food at work always - hummus and pita, potatoes, yogurt, dried fruit, and trader joes udon noodle soup and miso soup. I often work through lunch and work late - I've found it's best to just keep a stock pile of healthy things to eat.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

yeah, there are nights that I have to stay at work really late and am not allowed to leave either. I try to keep some cans of soup/popcorn/other non-perishables at my desk, and if I have a hunch that it'll be a late night, I try to bring something in for dinner along with my lunch. It definately sucks to be stuck with no dinner!

Can you order in at all? or is there a grocery store closer than your home where you could get something fast and cheap? At least that would be more like buying groceries than buying a meal.

-- Edited by ILoveChoo at 20:00, 2007-10-11

-- Edited by ILoveChoo at 20:01, 2007-10-11

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

Yeah I can understand how much that must suck!!

I usually go grocery shopping and always have a seperate list for work. I usually stock up on protien bars, water bottles , crystal light to go packets ( to add to water) string cheese, almonds, beef jerky etc.

I like the idea also of ordering in, maybe suggest that to your bosses so they can pick up the tab.

blubirde · Chanel

I'm surprised the firm isn't ordering food for everyone on their tab. That's the usual course of business at a law firm. Weird. I know you're ticked, but it's really not worth getting fired over to drive home for dinner. I'd suggest ordering in, even if you have to pay for it yourself. Sucks but in the long run you'll be better off.

Kari · Dooney & Bourke

I hear you guys. The office keeps a fairly stocked kitchen. Stocked with crap. Chips, cookies, granola bars, muffins....lots of carbs and lots of high fructose corn syrup. Even the popcorn they stock is extra movie butter. If I eat all of that stuff for two weeks, I'll have a heart attack.

I think I am just really really tired, exhausted, and very grouchy. If I can make it through this weekend, I should be okay. I just needed to vent yesterday!

sydney · Kate Spade

Ick, my old firm would leave a list of restaurants that would deliver when we were working more than 10 hours per day - we always got an extra per diem for that dinner when the hours exceeded 10 per day.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

Isn't there a fridge and microwave? I don't know what I'd do without those since I usually bring stuff from home and heat it up for lunch.

Bastet · Kate Spade

Can you put a microwave in your office? I like to buy organic vegetarian frozen meals and stash them in my office for when I can't get out. Also, do you have Trader Joe's where you live? They have some great microwavable stuff that isn't full of preservatives and other stuff that's bad for you.

Rene · Nine West

Legally I don't think they can fire you, you are intitled to so many breaks throughout the day per 8 hours of work. I don't know how that works when it falls into overtime hours but your state workforce employment commission would have the details.

I think it's bs that they wouldn't reimburse your for your tab. That's sorry!

I always kept microwave popcorn, nuts, granola bars, crackers, & tea in my desk and things like string cheese and lean pockets in the fridge for those crazy days when I couldn't get away.