My boss expects me to do what?
I am a paralegal. I went to school for the same. I was hired, almost 2 years ago, as a legal secretary, which is almost the same thing.
At the interview my job duties were similar to a receptionist and file clerk. My employer ("Jefe") is a sole practitioner, it's just he and I. as time pasted, more duties were brought upon me. I never mind the extra work. as a matter of fact, I hate being bored at work so more work is great, keeps me busy and my time goes by much quicker.
My main duties that Jefe told me about almost 1.5 years ago was filing and answering phones. but now, I have so much more, my filing is backed up and it is a constant issue. I can be working on my filing and the phone rings, that's 10 min on the phone to schedule a client's appointment, take a message, put them on hold to grab another line, etc, or Jefe comes to my desk and hands me a tape, asks me to open a new matter, instructs me to prepare X amount of pleadings for a file, while i'm still on the phone with the first client.
I am in charge of: ordering supplies, filing, answering phones, receiving mail, opening new matters, preparing petitions for chapter 7, 13 or 11, setting deposition/mediation, prepare litigation documents, prepare documents to trustee, draft correspondence, call the maintenance for the copy machine if it goes down (very often), talk to the clients and try to resolve and answer their questions before I transfer the phones, etc.
I am not complaining but Jefe is always on me that my filing is not up to date. he will compare me to his ex secretary who always had the filing up to date. she told me that she would come in on the weekends and work (note, we get paid salary so any over time is not paid for) and he said that is not true that she wouldn't take a lunch on most occasions to keep up the filing.
Now, I don't mind helping on a weekend or two or even not going to lunch to continue working. but, when does it because abusive? Is that fair? how many weekends is it okay to work without being compensated and how many times not going to lunch to continue working without being compensated is okay? please don't get me wrong, I'm more then happy to work extra hours (done on a daily basis), miss a few lunches (plenty of times) and work a few weekends (did in the beginning).
What do I do? I have had this conversation with him many times. I asked him if he would compensate me if I stared to work on sat. (not every sat., but just when I needed to come in to get everything up to date) and I don't even mind if he paid me regular instead of time in a half. that was a NO. then I asked if it was possible to just hire a file clerk PT less than 10 hours a week just to help me. he states that I don't need the help because his prior secretaries did the same work without needing help.
Also, all pleadings filed in the bankruptcy court, he receives an email of the same and prints out that pleading(s). so, besides daily snail mail, he prints out at least more than 100 pages a day of just documents from the BKC court to be filed.
1. Is this fair and what is another way of handling the situation?
2. in an 8 hour day, how should I manage my time more efficiently?
3. Overall, what would you do?
His ex-secretaries were his ex-WIVES , Leona !! Don`t let him pull the wool over your eyes !!
I`d start sending out job applications !!
Well I'm certain that in this economy, your boss' business has probably grown over the past couple of years with many more people filing bankruptcy. therefore, your amount of work has increased as well.
Can you do a little bit of research on this as your proof and explain this to him. I think he is just being cheap and doesn't want to spend any money to get the help he really needs.
If he is not willing to budge on this, there isn't much else you can do. you can either continue to work as you have been and just keep letting him get frustrated with the filing and in turn he may decide to let you go. your second option is one that others have mentioned as well and that is to start looking for a new job.
As someone who has worked intimately with everyone in the law profession at a company I know you'd recognize (but I won't mention here), my advice to you would be either 1. decide you can step up your game, get it right and not take it personally or 2. leave the profession.
Learn to streamline your processes. You're new, so this will take some time, but I would suggest getting on the Paralegal Community (there's one available from a certain search company, just google it, you'll see it) and get some advice from others in your situation. It's a HARD job, I know, but he's made it clear how the office works, and also that he expects you to work without pay. that, of course is illegal, and if I were you I'd find another company, but once you get on salary, you'll be expected to do that anyway, so it's actually decent practice.
Hang in there, give it another couple of months and work it out. You'll learn a lot, but it will be hard. seriously, go sign up for that community, you are not alone and will get good advice.
Also, if in a couple months this doesn't work out and you hate it, maybe it's a game not worth winning. This is a punishing career, and either you can get in gear and deal with it or not. There's no shame in ditching a crappy career that you hate. to hang on for years being miserable would be shameful though.
1) Type up your original job description and a job description of what you do now.
2) Schedule a meeting with him so you can discuss this uninterrupted.
3) Tell him that he needs to give you a title change and a raise for all that you are contributing.
4) If he refuses, request a reduction in workload. Know ahead of time what things you enjoy doing and what you'd like him to delegate to someone else.
5) If he refuses that, continue doing what you are doing, but immediately and secretly look for a better job now that you are worth more than a receptionist/file clerk.
Good Luck
I would keep a journal of everything you have described. Write down exactly what you do each day. there is a reason why they are his "ex" secretaries, if you move on to another job, just think what the new gal is going to hear "my ex secretary before you could keep up"
He is not going to change, so you only have two choices, and you already know what they are.
If you don't like it, quit.
I don't mean for that to sound harsh, but those are your options.
My boss expects me to do what?
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