We All Stumble

Jodee’s lip quivers when she recalls holding Kate in her arms as she sobbed.  This poor student was broken.  She had come to HR to pour out her heart about what she had endured from her professor.  Kate could barely hold back her tears as she described her professor’s cruel statement that she “Would never amount to anything.” When she heard that, Jodee decided that something needed to be done. Little did she know that she would let these students down instead, and that she would end up feeling like a failure.

Jodee is sitting in front of her laptop, looking at the broken pieces of her interview. The words on the screen go blurry as her eyes well up with tears. What exactly had happened? How did it go so wrong?  These poor students had put their trust in her, believing she would fix it.  Jodee shivers as she recalls asking the professor about Kate’s claim. To each question she had asked, the professor responded aggressively. He punched and jabbed with his words.  She had tried to counter but found herself going backwards.  The professor had sensed her weakness and delivered blow after blow, dismissing Jodee’s query as ridiculous.  She couldn’t help how her body responded to this confrontation: her hands began to sweat, and she felt her mouth dry up, causing her to fumble her words.  Panic sprang up in Jodee’s stomach. Desperately, her eyes searched for somewhere – anywhere – to run and escape the situation.    

The weight of embarrassment presses against her chest and is almost too much to bear.  Thank God no one else had been there to see it.  How is she going to explain this to Kate? How is she going to explain this to her VP? She wanted to prove she was a leader.  She needed to protect these vulnerable students.  But when the moment had arrived, Jodee had shied away from the fight.  She had wilted.   She had failed them just when they needed her most.  

Then Jodee’s tears began to flow.  Anguish and anger burned in her chest.  Disappointment and shame weighed down her shoulders.  She felt like an idiot.  She was an embarrassment.  Maybe her mother was right after all… Jodee closed her laptop and gave in.  When did she become such a failure?  

I Have Stumbled Too

During my career, I’ve learned that pride can be a hindrance.  As a junior lawyer, I wanted to prove myself and show everyone that I belonged.  I wanted to prove that I would be a great lawyer.  A partner came to me one day and asked if I could take on a pay equity issue case for a non-profit organisation.  I knew of the client and was very keen to work with them because of their good work in the community, so I instantly agreed to take the case.  

As we got into the project, there were all kinds of complexities that came up: the union hired a tenacious consultant, and everything became a fight.  I found him disrespectful toward me and my client, and in my inexperience, I responded as a bulldog and bit back. That may have been good for my pride, but it wasn’t good for the client. The negotiation was growing more and more expensive. I should have asked for help, but I was too desperate to prove I could handle the case independently.  In truth, I also felt I was smarter than the other guy and I wanted to beat him.  My pride got in the way.  

Eventually we finalized the agreement and, after everything was signed, I was eager to celebrate with the client.  When I scheduled a call with them, I was shocked when the client thanked me for helping them and then asked if I could help transition their work to another firm.  It was a punch I never saw coming.  My heart started to race. I asked if there was something I could do to keep them as a client, but they were insistent that they wanted to take their business elsewhere.  The call ended shortly afterward.

I put down the phone and took a deep breath.  My mouth was still dry.  My heart was still racing.  Panic and disappointment danced in my chest.  I needed to get out of the office. 

I got in my car and drove down a lonely highway.  The bright lights of the city faded behind me.  I felt gutted.  When I couldn’t stand the silence any longer, I put on the Eagles – Take It to The Limit – and hit replay each time the track ended. There was a hollow feeling in my chest that just would not go away.  

My dream had faded into failure, and I hadn’t seen it coming.  I had let the client down – how could I make it up to them?  And how was I going to face the partner who put his trust in me when he gave me the assignment?  This was a disaster without a solution.  I drove into the night, looking for a sign and praying for a solution.  

I silently swore at myself for being such a proud fool.  I had put myself before the client.  I had lost sight of their needs, their budget, and their desire for certainty. The client now had a fractured relationship with the union – something I had failed to consider. I had made myself the main attraction: I had treated the proceedings as a battle was between me and my counterpart.

My client had needed me to guide them.  They had wanted me to deliver certainty and peace.  Instead, I created uncertainty and sown the seeds for another fight.  

I had let them down, just when they needed me most.

This experience changed the way I practiced law.  It informed how Persaud Employment Law was going to be better.  We listen to your needs and provide you with a predictable pathway to success.  How?  By providing you with cost-certainty in the form of fixed fees and a promise that we will complete the investigation in 60 days.  If not, It’s free. 

Regain Your Confidence and Control

You are going to build a healthy workplace.  Some may doubt you, but we know you can do it.  We will support you on your journey and help you close the investigation with confidence.  

We start by listening to your story.  We want to understand the dynamics of the conflict that has been dropped on your desk.  We will then provide you with a fixed fee to investigate and resolve the issue for you.  While you may be in the dark as to what happened between the parties, you should never be in the dark when it comes to knowing what it will cost to uncover the truth.  We will provide you with that cost certainty. 

Also, we understand the frustration when investigations drag on with no end in sight.  You need certainty now; not several months from now.  We guarantee that we will complete the investigation in 60 days or it’s free.   

We promise that you will regain control of the situation.  You can rely on our investigation report to support the steps that are necessary to address the conflict and move forward.  Call us to explore how we can help you close the investigation with confidence.