SNR Denton Email


To: Michael Kerr, Managing Partner CC: Everyone else at SNR Denton Dear Michael, I would like to thank you for the opportunity of working with SNR Denton even though my stay has been short-lived one. It's been brought to my attention by your HR Manager, X 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. I haven't had many reasons or opportunities to interact much with you in the first 2-3 weeks of my settling in at SNR Denton. 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. Secondly I would like to bring to your attention of my version of my experience of my 1 month at SNR Denton. I was interviewed by both X and Y for this role and after meeting with them I felt quite positive about joining a Law firm of such an esteemed name and reputation. I was promised that my lack of legal knowledge and experience would not be a problem and that the necessary guidance and training would be provided to me as they were fully aware that I had come from a corporate finance background with very rigid HR structures in place. However I did have a concern that X 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?). I was then lured from being employed by a Global multinational company and role where I was part of a highly professional supportive HR team and manager, necessary trainings scheduled and excellent, dynamic HR systems were in place, to join SNR Denton with false expectations. A decision I've regretted from the minute I stepped into SNRD's offices! 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, common professional courtesy. X came in and spoke to the IT team setting up the projector, then sat down and started with the induction presentation. No eye contact was made whatsoever. I was then left isolated in an office grasping at straws trying to find information and figure out the processes of how things worked here. I was not given any hand over, job description or profile, X had not once sat down with me to discuss my role and expectations nor given me the correct support in order to assist me. I attempted asking X in the beginning and 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. After 2 weeks of confusion X admitted that X was "testing" me!! Obviously X was intentionally giving me vague instructions and setting me up for failure from the very start. I'm not sure what kind of management style your HR Manager practices but I've never come across it in any of the corporate companies where I had previously been employed. During my 1 month at SNRD X had only been in the office for 2 weeks, travelling the rest of the time. Upon X's return from X's second trip 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 X 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!!!! Being boisterous, loud and wound up constantly are not natural personality traits of mine. I'm sure X could make that assumption after an interview with me. X asked me point blank who all the partners were and where each one was located. After 2-3 weeks of being employed here I obviously couldn't answer that question which X said was unacceptable. I mean they way the office is structured is absolutely absurd in any case. And lastly, X said that X did not have the patience to explain my role, expectations and the processes of how things work to me. Extremely unfair for a new joiner if you ask me, not to mention highly unprofessional. X then contradicted X-self by saying I have a fantastic personality that people actually liked me and that my admin skills are excellent??? Confused much??? I asked X to give me a job profile/description, performance measures and turnaround times that I could work with and a chance to at least meet X's expectations and know my what my role was including my limitations, however X point blank refused and said that X preferred to go with "gut" feeling and terminate my contract immediately instead. I also made X aware that X made no effort at all to interact with me on any level especially in a professional capacity. X's answer was "I know". After a month of being employed here I still did not receive a labour card/visa (this was not even processed and was kept on being told that it would be done next week). Now it is clearly evident that there was never any intention of processing any of this! Michael, I am a decent hard-working person with years of experience from various corporate professional services companies. To say the least I am devastated and appalled at how unfairly I've been treated at SNR Denton. I have to question how an HR leader within your firm can be so down right rude, ruthless and unprofessional to a new employee especially within X's own team. 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 and 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. SNRD Denton will remain an extremely bad experience for me and my professional networks will certainly be made aware of this. 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!!!

To: Michael Kerr, Managing Partner
CC: Everyone else at SNR Denton

Dear Michael,

I would like to thank you for the opportunity of working with SNR Denton even though my stay has been short-lived one. It's been brought to my attention by your HR Manager, X 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. I haven't had many reasons or opportunities to interact much with you in the first 2-3 weeks of my settling in at SNR Denton. 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.

Secondly I would like to bring to your attention of my version of my experience of my 1 month at SNR Denton. I was interviewed by both X and Y for this role and after meeting with them I felt quite positive about joining a Law firm of such an esteemed name and reputation. I was promised that my lack of legal knowledge and experience would not be a problem and that the necessary guidance and training would be provided to me as they were fully aware that I had come from a corporate finance background with very rigid HR structures in place. However I did have a concern that X 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?). I was then lured from being employed by a Global multinational company and role where I was part of a highly professional supportive HR team and manager, necessary trainings scheduled and excellent, dynamic HR systems were in place, to join SNR Denton with false expectations. A decision I've regretted from the minute I stepped into SNRD's offices!

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, common professional courtesy. X came in and spoke to the IT team setting up the projector, then sat down and started with the induction presentation. No eye contact was made whatsoever. I was then left isolated in an office grasping at straws trying to find information and figure out the processes of how things worked here. I was not given any hand over, job description or profile, X had not once sat down with me to discuss my role and expectations nor given me the correct support in order to assist me. I attempted asking X in the beginning and 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. After 2 weeks of confusion X admitted that X was "testing" me!! Obviously X was intentionally giving me vague instructions and setting me up for failure from the very start. I'm not sure what kind of management style your HR Manager practices but I've never come across it in any of the corporate companies where I had previously been employed. During my 1 month at SNRD X had only been in the office for 2 weeks, travelling the rest of the time.

Upon X's return from X's second trip 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 X 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!!!! Being boisterous, loud and wound up constantly are not natural personality traits of mine. I'm sure X could make that assumption after an interview with me. X asked me point blank who all the partners were and where each one was located. After 2-3 weeks of being employed here I obviously couldn't answer that question which X said was unacceptable. I mean they way the office is structured is absolutely absurd in any case. And lastly, X said that X did not have the patience to explain my role, expectations and the processes of how things work to me. Extremely unfair for a new joiner if you ask me, not to mention highly unprofessional. X then contradicted X-self by saying I have a fantastic personality that people actually liked me and that my admin skills are excellent??? Confused much???

I asked X to give me a job profile/description, performance measures and turnaround times that I could work with and a chance to at least meet X's expectations and know my what my role was including my limitations, however X point blank refused and said that X preferred to go with "gut" feeling and terminate my contract immediately instead. I also made X aware that X made no effort at all to interact with me on any level especially in a professional capacity. X's answer was "I know". After a month of being employed here I still did not receive a labour card/visa (this was not even processed and was kept on being told that it would be done next week). Now it is clearly evident that there was never any intention of processing any of this!

Michael, I am a decent hard-working person with years of experience from various corporate professional services companies. To say the least I am devastated and appalled at how unfairly I've been treated at SNR Denton. I have to question how an HR leader within your firm can be so down right rude, ruthless and unprofessional to a new employee especially within X's own team. 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 and 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. SNRD Denton will remain an extremely bad experience for me and my professional networks will certainly be made aware of this.

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!!!

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