Why are they like this?!
So, my partner—self-titled “Defender of Associates”—assigned me a new task in an unfamiliar area. They mentioned a fee cap, presenting it as a great chance to get some training. The plan was to do some background research to get acquainted, review the file, and draft a report. They even encouraged me to take my time since the client wouldn’t be billed beyond the cap, asking me to send a draft by next week.
I thought, “Sounds good, I’ll get it done.”
Fast forward—I put in about 36 hours, doing the research, reviewing the file, drafting a 48-page report, and completing a first round of edits.
The partner replied, “This is fantastic work, OP! Thank you!”
Then, two weeks later, I receive an email from them (with the Managing Partner CC’d): “OP, why did you spend so much time on this? This is unacceptable and concerning. Please explain.”
Me: 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃
One Response
It sounds like you’re in a pretty frustrating situation! It’s tough when expectations aren’t clearly communicated. You did exactly what the partner asked for—went above and beyond to deliver a thorough report. It feels like they’re not recognizing the effort and time you put into it, which is disheartening.
Maybe it would help to have a conversation with the partner to clarify expectations upfront next time. Ask for guidance on time limits or how they prefer reports to be structured. This way, you can meet their standards without feeling like you’re being penalized for doing a great job. Hang in there!