Exclusive: Ex-SNR Denton employee sends furious email around firm

An ex-employee of SNR Denton has sent a furious email to the Managing Partner, copying in the entire firm.

The ex-member of staff claims she was fired after only a month because she had children. She rails against a particular HR manager's "putrid" professional standards, accuses the firm of "taking the bread out of [my] family's mouth" and warns that "God does not turn a blind eye to pure unfairness". Crikey.

Some of the more quotable highlights of the rather lengthy email are set out below.


From: Disgruntled ex-employee To: Michael Kerr, Managing Partner cc: Everyone at SNR Denton Dear Michael It's been brought to my attention by your HR Manager that you and many of the other partners do not like me. I would like to apologise if I have offended you or not met your standards in any way in the once, maybe twice that I have interacted with with you. The few times I did see you in the walk ways, you looked in the other direction which did not give me the opportunity interact with you. I did have a concern that X [name withheld by RollOnFriday] made very clear in the interview, the fact that X had an issue that I had a child and family after which I reassured X that they would not interfere with my work, which they haven't. And also when I plan on having more kids and if I foresee this happening in the next 5 years? (who the heck asks that in an interview when representing a company?). The day I joined I got the biggest shock at the lack of professionalism, I was not greeted with a hand-shake nor even a hello from X. I was met with a very rude condescending and sarcastic response (eyes rolling and sneers), one word answers while looking down at the floor etc. which made me very hesitant to ask any questions and led to me making common mistakes. I was told that my contract would be terminated for the following reasons: A few spelling mistakes on an excel spreadsheet, which I had made X aware whilst working on it at the time that my computer froze constantly and I was finding difficulty. Kind of ironic that I have received countless emails with the very same spelling mistakes from X. I was not walking around socialising enough with the rest of the staff on the other floors. I explained to X how insecure and demotivated I felt in my role with the way X had treated me and that led me to not socialising as much. I also did not want to give the impression that my work was lacking because I was being a social butterfly. I mean after all you actually have to build and establish relationships first before becoming "Miss popular".I'm not sure which planet X is from where X expects this to happen in 2-3 weeks??? Laugh out freaking loud...especially since X should practise what she preaches. The partners did not like me?? Really now...I found this most surprising as I had hardly or never worked or interacted with any of them. But really good to know how judgemental the "professional" calibre of people at your company can be. My personality is too passive...this coming from someone who hasn't said a word to me since the day I joined the firm!!!! I understand that X has no professional services background but X's professional standards are putrid. Not to mention how outdated the HR processes are, it's actually a complete joke! Whilst I am fully aware that this email will only aggravate the situation an that you've got an established relationship with X, but thought it is necessary for you to be made aware of the tactics X uses and abuses in X's professional capacity. I am "grateful" for being given the opportunity to stay while I find alternative employment but I am still in a very awkward position of having to market myself after only 1 month of being employed and now am officially unemployed. Taking someone's job opportunity away and bread out of their family's mouth for no apparent reason may be a game to your company, but in real life, God does not turn a blind eye to pure unfairness!!!"

From: Disgruntled ex-employee
To: Michael Kerr, Managing Partner
cc: Everyone at SNR Denton

Dear Michael

It's been brought to my attention by your HR Manager that you and many of the other partners do not like me. I would like to apologise if I have offended you or not met your standards in any way in the once, maybe twice that I have interacted with with you. The few times I did see you in the walk ways, you looked in the other direction which did not give me the opportunity interact with you.

I did have a concern that X [name withheld by RollOnFriday] made very clear in the interview, the fact that X had an issue that I had a child and family after which I reassured X that they would not interfere with my work, which they haven't. And also when I plan on having more kids and if I foresee this happening in the next 5 years? (who the heck asks that in an interview when representing a company?).

The day I joined I got the biggest shock at the lack of professionalism, I was not greeted with a hand-shake nor even a hello from X. I was met with a very rude condescending and sarcastic response (eyes rolling and sneers), one word answers while looking down at the floor etc. which made me very hesitant to ask any questions and led to me making common mistakes.

I was told that my contract would be terminated for the following reasons:

A few spelling mistakes on an excel spreadsheet, which I had made X aware whilst working on it at the time that my computer froze constantly and I was finding difficulty. Kind of ironic that I have received countless emails with the very same spelling mistakes from X.
I was not walking around socialising enough with the rest of the staff on the other floors. I explained to X how insecure and demotivated I felt in my role with the way X had treated me and that led me to not socialising as much. I also did not want to give the impression that my work was lacking because I was being a social butterfly. I mean after all you actually have to build and establish relationships first before becoming "Miss popular".I'm not sure which planet X is from where X expects this to happen in 2-3 weeks??? Laugh out freaking loud...especially since X should practise what she preaches.
The partners did not like me?? Really now...I found this most surprising as I had hardly or never worked or interacted with any of them. But really good to know how judgemental the "professional" calibre of people at your company can be.
My personality is too passive...this coming from someone who hasn't said a word to me since the day I joined the firm!!!!

I understand that X has no professional services background but X's professional standards are putrid. Not to mention how outdated the HR processes are, it's actually a complete joke! Whilst I am fully aware that this email will only aggravate the situation an that you've got an established relationship with X, but thought it is necessary for you to be made aware of the tactics X uses and abuses in X's professional capacity.

I am "grateful" for being given the opportunity to stay while I find alternative employment but I am still in a very awkward position of having to market myself after only 1 month of being employed and now am officially unemployed. Taking someone's job opportunity away and bread out of their family's mouth for no apparent reason may be a game to your company, but in real life, God does not turn a blind eye to pure unfairness!!!"

Crikey again. A spokeswoman for the firm said that "we don't comment on individual employees or ex employees, however SNR Denton is recognised as having an excellent track record in diversity and flexible working".

In other SNR Denton departure news, Regional Managing Partner Leigh Hall has just resigned from the firm for unknown reasons. You know the drill.

Mr Angry yesterday

Tip Off ROF

Comments

"I did have a concern that X [name withheld by RollOnFriday] made very clear in the interview, the fact that X had an issue that I had a child and family after which I reassured X that they would not interfere with my work, which they haven't. And also when I plan on having more kids and if I foresee this happening in the next 5 years? (who the heck asks that in an interview when representing a company?)"

This is evidence of sex discrimination. She should take them to an employment tribunal!

DWS as it was then screwed me over royally when I was there too so this comes as no surprise whatsoever. Law firms generally lack proper CSR policies. A law firm by its very nature is just a group of people (the partners) coming together to [ab]use a common resource (the associates and support staff). Given the fact that partnership is currently an almost extinct prospect for most of us, other than the money (which isn't that fantastic any more) it really does beggar belief why anyone would want to become a lawyer and join the stinking cesspool of the common resource club.

She writes like a bit of a maniac.

Whilst I don't feel it justifies immediate termination (or even sacking), when she wrote, "I felt quite positive about joining a Law firm of such an esteemed name and reputation", it does demonstrate a woeful lack of judgment.

Same old story I imagine. Dull female partner cant bring herself to speak to an attractive secretary who has a kid.

I would suggest the lack of social skills rest with the partner and not the secretary. I wonder how often she has changed jobs since qualification? None I would guess.

Nothing changes then. I had very similar treatment when I joined Denton Hall as a senior solicitor in the early '90s. Unbelievably unwelcoming and (some) rude partners from day one. I knew it was a wrong move within a week but felt I would have to stick it out for a while or my CV would look bad. That was the wrong decision - I should just have got out. I hope the lady concerned can take heart from the fact she is no longer there and that it is their loss.

The editing of this makes her sound a bit loopier than the full version.

Oh heavens, the poor lady lost it but I have some sympathy. Whoever X is sounds uncannily like the nasty borderline sociopath who was senior partner in my former firm. Turns out these people are everywhere... in the legal profession, perhaps

So many people, so many similar experiences. It just means when they get good people they never end up staying very long. Shame nobody has bothered to do anything about it to the point this sort of thing happens. Getting into the public domain like this only further helps to ruin the firms reputation and chances of employing and retaining staff.

Crap firm, nasty people.

She should apply to Dickinson Dees