Work/Life Balance
Facing Another Request for a Weekend Project? Here’s How to Refuse
Posted Feb 27, 2009 1:16 PM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A lawyer coach says it is possible to head off constant partner requests for weekend work, and it involves more than the single word “no.”
In a Legal Intelligencer article, Debra Bruce offers several strategies to free up your weekend while satisfying a demanding partner. They include:
--Approach the partner earlier in the week and ask about upcoming projects. For example, you could say, "I have an important commitment this weekend, so I want to make sure I cover all the bases for you by Friday. Are there any projects that you could find the need to hand off to me later? If so, I would like to know about them now, so that I don't have to leave you in the lurch.”
--If you get questions about why you are busy on the weekend, simply answer that “it’s personal.” Don’t disclose too much, since more information may result in the partner trying to find a way for you to do your work and attend whatever event you are planning. Hold firm; if you get more questions, repeat “it’s personal” or answer, “I’d rather not talk about it.”
--If you decline a last-minute project, offer alternatives. You could explain, for example, that you have handled several weekend assignments. Then you could say: "It's not that I'm not committed or that I'm unwilling to put in the hours. I want to make sure we impress our clients. This time, however, I have an obligation I can't push aside. Would you rather find someone else, or would you like me to come in early on Monday to get started on it?"
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Comments
tim
Feb 27, 2009 2:17 PM CST
In today’s legal word - saying no to a project means you go to the top of the lay off list.
ur stupid to say no to any request in this market.
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JohnyLaw
Feb 27, 2009 4:04 PM CST
IDIOTIC ADVICE.
ASSOCIATES (AND SOME JUNIOR PARTNERS) ARE POWERLESS.
IF YOU SAY NO, YOU SHOULD NEXT ASK FOR A BANKERS BOX AND ENOUGH TIME TO PACK YOUR STUFF.
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attorney
Feb 27, 2009 6:31 PM CST
Why would you not want to work in this economy? This is shallow advice.
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B. McLeod
Feb 28, 2009 11:05 AM CST
Why not just run your own shop, or find a job that does not require weekend billables? (There may be some vacancies coming up at the SEC).
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fredricka finkelstein (not my real name :>)
Feb 28, 2009 3:46 PM CST
What idiot hired her to write articles? Is this gal related to the publisher? Lawyers have been pulling all-nighters and ordering take-out for years.
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Joseph
Mar 1, 2009 12:58 AM CST
She’s probably the legal “consultant” who’s been running around saying the world is ending. PS… in any profession, telling your boss you have “personal things” to do when you’re given an assignment is a sure fire way to get fired. Law isn’t any different.
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Peden
Mar 1, 2009 4:24 PM CST
As much as it stinks, saying no to a weekend assignment is not the smartest course of action in this economy. It is not a good way to make yourself invaluable, either. Instead, it’s time to smarten up all around. Work harder, look sharper, etc., etc., etc…
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Michael
Mar 2, 2009 11:07 AM CST
Read the rest of the layoff postings on the daily mail list ... then say “no problem!” If you do have a personal event that really can’t be canceled—and there are few of these—do the opposite of this advice; tell your boss exactly what it is (assuming it’s pressing enough to count: say, a half hour with a terminally ill parent) and block the minimum amount of time necessary to fit it in. I’d fire somebody who continually turned down weekend work with no explanation—or was obviously looking to weasel out of it—even in a strong economy.
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Ken
Mar 3, 2009 12:08 PM CST
My advice would be to be smart and try to balance the weekend work with the important matters of life beyond the office. Yes, unless you are in Big City Law, there is actually life outside of work and real lawyers actually do things besides bill. So, to the associate who is constantly being coerced and dumped on for weekend work, I would also begin to look for a better fit. Once you have something lined up, you can tell Mr. Ms. NoLife Partner that it’s been nice but it’s time for you to move on. I know quite a few smaller firms in my city where the lawyers have families, live lives and make work/life balance a commitment. They may not be making $200,000 a year but you can afford to live even in today’s world for a lot less.
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