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Vote on Desiree Davidson's Story
Were they afraid we were planning a coup d'etat?
I spent my first summer during Columbia Law School at a firm in Philadelphia described as one of the best places in the city for black lawyers. I believed that if there was any place where I would have an equal chance at opportunities, be treated fairly and succeed, this would be it. There were three black female summer associates out of sixty that year but any time all three of us were in an office talking, one of the partners would knock on the door to see how we were doing. It happened too often to be a coincidence that sometimes we would purposely agree to meet in so-and-so's office to test our theory that we were being monitored. Like clock work, ten minutes after we would get together a partner would stop by.
Positive interactions and open communications
- Workplace Unfairness
- Female
- African-American
- Health Care
- Considering Leaving
- Other
- Communication Styles
- Coworkers
- Positive Experience
- Representation
Since my departure for that one week, I have had many positive interactions with my staff, peers and my boss, the CEO. I have since had several open honest discussions with my boss. We have both been able to express our expectations of each other and have agreed to seek clarification before negative assumptions. There has been no impact on my representation with clients or customers.