Email Scandals, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants

Stepford Secretary Responds to Above the Law

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The Bingham McCutchen “Stepford Secretary” has decided to speak out about her termination from Bingham and her decision to hire a lawyer.
In an email she sent to Above the Law, the Stepford Secretary describes her firm wide CHARACTER email as “totally harmless.” She also describes the way in which she was fired from Bingham:

I panicked prior to my termination. Bingham disconnected my computer, took my identification and escorted me out of the building.

She also explains why she hired a lawyer:

Why a possible lawsuit? Bingham terminated me for violation of policy. There is no written policy regarding NOT being able to send mass internal emails. It says to use discretion. I’m sure that policy has been or will quickly be updated.

Stepford claims that she always intended her email to be an internal communication with in the firm. She writes that she didn’t even know Above the Law existed before she sent her email.
She does now.
Read her full email after the jump. She has requested that we maintain her anonymity to the general public.


STEPFORD SECRETARY — STATEMENT
Here is some more of my uneducated poor writing. For those of you who will rip it apart I say to you what I would say to those at Bingham who found my email either offensive, irritating, distracting or other DON’T READ IT!!!
For two weeks now I have stressed over the situation. What dawned on me tonight was that I have been stressed over ATL’s blog. This blog where all of you big shots are cowards. At least I sent my email with a re line that included my name. No, I did not interoffice it to everyone. Would I have, sure (and what policy is there on that?). Hey, I could have made 1000 copies and interofficed it anonymously. But we do live in the technology age and I am not a coward. You think me stupid, arrogate, selfish etc. I may not write eloquent or proper but I do not hide behind blogs and legal jargon. Yeah, yeah…I have “character” now and I’m not a “coward” (use of “” for all of those who liked them the first time), see how far that got me TERMINATED teehee. What a bunch of munch heads.
My mass email was totally harmless. It was simply food for thought and at ones’ discretion to read. There is a lot of tension in all work places these days. I had nothing bad to say about Bingham and did not single anyone out. In fact, there was absolutely no information in my email at all. Am I sorry I sent it? I am not ashamed to have an opinion and a voice. But am I sorry? I’m sorry because good people got and are getting hurt by the backlash. Not so much from my actual email but I think from its arrival on the blog. I’m also sorry because now these colleges are even more terrified for their jobs. My email was in no way attempting to rally the troops. Hell, most people couldn’t even make sense of it.
So why did I hire a lawyer? Well most of you have answered that for yourselves. You have NO respect or regard for secretaries or staff. I panicked prior to my termination. Bingham disconnected my computer, took my identification and escorted me out of the building. I had no idea about the blog nor did they tell me. I had no idea that ATL existed. I was really freaked out.
So who is the lawyer? I have been a legal secretary since I’m seventeen. You make friends and friends of lawyers etc. So this exceptional person and lawyer jumps in at a moments notice to help me out and see that Bingham is aware that I had no connection to ATL and to possibly rectify the situation.
Well strangely Bingham will not even speak with this lawyer (numerous attempts were made).
Why a possible lawsuit? Bingham terminated me for violation of policy. There is no written policy regarding NOT being able to send mass internal emails. It says to use discretion. I’m sure that policy has been or will quickly be updated. As for insubordination I kind of wish now I had been. Hey they showed me. Trouble is, my email was harmless and their actions against me are not. They terminated me for cause on grounds that did not exist at the time. This is my career and reputation on the line.
Should make one ask the question who wanted me out so badly and so quickly? So now we are slinging mud. My current lawyer is referring me to a labor lawyer. Don’t be ridiculous….ten years there….of course I have acceptable grounds (even a little juicy). Do I, did I want to go down this road? Hell no!!! I truly liked my job and the people I worked with. This is really devastating. As I said though, this is my career and my reputation on the line. Worse, adding insult to injury I do have a family to feed and put a roof over.
Earlier: Stepford Secretary Lawyers Up
Bingham McCutchen’s ‘Stepford Secretary’ Has Left The Building
Bingham McCutchen Staffer Doesn’t Want to be a ‘Stepford’ Secretary

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