Should I feel bad?

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you absolutely did the right thing. You didn't go to the partner and tell on her, he came to you and asked direct questions. You gave direct answers without giving a lot of details. I would have done the same thing. It's not your job to cover for her. Those PPs that say otherwise seem like they pull stuff like that themselves and expect others to cover for them. Those are the kinds of people that mooch off of everyone else and try to get away with doing as little work as possible. I've known a few of those myself!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have done what you did.

Karma may be a bitch, but lying tends to be even worse.

You were asked a direct question, you didn't offer the information up unasked for.

You told the truth, why should you feel bad? Associate made this choice. Her karma may be a bitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I go home early every day but work after, usually until late in the evening....do you know she is not doing this?

OP here. She does check her BlackBerry, which I told the partner. I know she's not working later because we don't have the work to do; that's frankly why she leaves so early. Also, the partner asked if she had left for the day. I don't think the concern was "why isn't she working more" but rather "why can't I find her at 4 p.m."

[Anonymous]

OP - do you intend to tell the assoicate about your conversation?

[Anonymous]

I worked at a law fim (both Big and small) and never in a million years would I have answered those questions in the manner you did. The partner shouldn't have asked you and you shouldn't have offered up any information other than, "I dont know". Partner can take up issues with your groups partner. And you admit that you answered to some extent because your scared of losing your job.

[Anonymous]

np here, and a lawyer. I would have done the same exact thing as OP, right down to the language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - do you intend to tell the assoicate about your conversation?

Yes. I'll definitely give her a heads up that the partner was looking for her after she'd left. Although I'd bet $1 million that the partner already told her as much. As far as what I said ... ugh. I really don't need/want her upset with me, even if I feel I did what I had to do. She has this really odd sense of her professionalism and when other people have made comments, she's kinda flipped out at them.

I'll probably apply the same policy as I did with my conversation with the partner. If she asks, I won't lie, but I'm not volunteering the information. To be honest, I don't think she will ask, because doing so would basically be an admission that she was sneaking out and doesn't want people to know.

[Anonymous]

I would have done the same thing in the same manner. It doesn't make one iota difference that the work is slow or if you're concerned about your job security. We're supposed to put in a honest day's work for an honest day's pay. The partner probably had an inkling she did this every day or he wouldn't have asked. You owed your employer an answer and you provided the minimally acceptable answer. You did the right thing by not lying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Karma doesn't sign your pay check

Classic big law response. Too bad it's true in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, spoken like a true snake in the grass. Its none of your business where she is and you didn't know that she went home you just think she did. You should have answered honestly and said, "I don't know." Glad I don't work with you. Mind your own business next time.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Op, I think you did the right thing. You told the truth and also offered that she tended to be reachable by bb. Seriously, she sounds like the snake, not you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have done what you did.

Karma may be a bitch, but lying tends to be even worse.

You were asked a direct question, you didn't offer the information up unasked for.

Ditto this. If she only left so early occasionally, my answer might have been different but leaving hours early every day is not okay.

[Anonymous]

If people are paid to be at work, that's where they should be, not sneaking down and out the back stairway. There's always something that can be done during those down time hours to improve profits, the work space, or your own personal skills. The problem with people leaving work early on a regular basis is that it diminishes their overall stamina. It diminishes their ability to work and to be productive at their jobs.

When we arrive at work mentally prepared to work a long day -- it really doesn't seem so bad. But if gradually over time when reduce our work days by first an hour and then two or four, eventually we lose the self-discipline and motivation to be productive at work and effective at our professions.

You have nothing to worry about. Your supervisor didn't just fall off the cabbage truck; he/she was just confirming with you the suspicions they already held.

[Anonymous]

aprilmayjune wrote:Well it kinds sounds like you didn't have much of a choice.. they asked where she was.. what were you supposed to do? "she's in the bathroom?" If you had covered for her and they found out about it, you would have faced whatever disciplinary action they were handing out.. CYA, not theirs..

Yes, I agree. Lying for her would have put you in a bad position. It could cost your your job.

[Anonymous]

Law firm life breeds these sort of no-win situations and stupid "face time" dilemmas. This is exactly why I left. When I worked for Big Law (tm), there was an associate who kept exactly these sorts of hours. Then he came in for an hour at around midnight or one a.m., emailed and returned phone calls. Everyone thought he was oh so diligent.