This is a very loaded question. There have been times in the office when I’ve been told “your time is worth more”. This statement makes me pause to think about what I’m actually worth. Not just professionally, but also outside the office. Most people underestimate their value, and that’s unfortunate.
One thing that let’s me really see my worth is working for an employer who values her employees, as well as their time. Not only does she recognize our worth and how valuable we are to the firm (we all have something to bring to the firm), but she also values her own time and delegates tasks. By doing this, we all have our jobs, and gives us all opportunities to provide input on important matters.
As we are a boutique law firm, we usually have an idea of each other’s work flow. Sometimes when things get hectic and tasks are being assigned, it can get confusing as to who has what task. When it comes to a big project that includes indexing hundreds of emails (with attachments of course), it can be forgotten just how cumbersome that task can be. As we are valued in the office, its up to us, as not only employees but also as individuals, to speak up and let others know you need help. Sometimes we forget that we can speak for ourselves, or sometimes we are afraid to speak up about workloads for fear of not being able to handle multi-tasking
I had to learn long ago that I needed to speak up for myself when I was overwhelmed. By doing this, it opens up everyone’s eyes, and yours too, as to just exactly what is involved with your job. You could be surprised that you actually do more than you think, and with everything little thing you do, it just adds value and makes you realize just how much your time is worth.
Christine Allan, ILCO Law Clerk