#workplace conflicts
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"Mars in the 6th house empowers individuals in their work and health pursuits, enhancing motivation and effectiveness. However, this placement can also introduce challenges such as workplace conflicts and stress. Remedies include fostering teamwork, establishing work-life balance, and incorporating stress-relief techniques to navigate obstacles and promote overall well-being."
Visit now : Mars in 6th House: Power, Challenges, and Remedies
#Mars#Mars in 6th house#Astrology#Work and Efficiency#Health Risks#Workplace Conflicts#Stress and Anxiety#Health Precautions#Dietary Adjustments
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Strategies For Resolving Workplace Conflicts | Loeb Leadership
Workplace conflicts are an inevitable part of any professional environment, often influenced by office politics and varying personal perspectives. Effectively managing these conflicts is crucial for maintaining high employee morale and optimizing productivity. Drawing on insights from Loeb Leadership, here are some strategic approaches to resolving workplace conflicts and fostering a harmonious work environment.
Prioritize Effective Communication
Effective communication is the cornerstone of conflict resolution. Misunderstandings and miscommunications often fuel workplace conflicts. Loeb Leadership emphasizes the importance of clear and open dialogue. Encourage employees to express their concerns and viewpoints honestly while also actively listening to others. This two-way communication helps in identifying the root causes of conflicts and paves the way for mutually acceptable solutions.
Address Conflicts Early
Procrastination in addressing conflicts can escalate issues and harm team dynamics. According to Loeb Leadership, addressing conflicts early on prevents them from growing into more significant problems. Encourage managers and team leaders to identify and tackle issues promptly before they become ingrained in office politics. Early intervention helps in resolving disputes before they impact employee morale and productivity.
Foster a Collaborative Environment
Creating a collaborative environment is key to conflict resolution. Loeb Leadership advocates for fostering a culture where employees feel valued and heard. By promoting teamwork and collaboration, employees are more likely to work together to resolve conflicts amicably. Encourage joint problem-solving sessions where conflicting parties can discuss their issues openly and work towards a common goal.
Implement Fair Conflict Resolution Processes
Establishing a clear and fair conflict resolution process is essential. Loeb Leadership highlights the importance of having structured procedures in place. This includes setting up mediation processes and involving neutral third parties when necessary. A transparent approach ensures that conflicts are handled impartially, reducing the influence of office politics and enhancing overall employee satisfaction.
Focus on Building Strong Relationships
Strong professional relationships are the foundation for effective conflict resolution. Loeb Leadership suggests that investing in relationship-building activities can reduce the likelihood of conflicts. Team-building exercises, regular check-ins, and social interactions outside of work help strengthen bonds among employees, making it easier to navigate disagreements when they arise.
Encourage Empathy and Understanding
Empathy plays a crucial role in resolving workplace conflicts. Loeb Leadership stresses the importance of understanding different perspectives. Encourage employees to put themselves in each otherâs shoes and appreciate diverse viewpoints. This empathetic approach helps in de-escalating tensions and finding common ground, ultimately leading to more effective conflict resolution.
Provide Training and Resources
Investing in training and resources for conflict resolution is vital. Loeb Leadership recommends providing employees with the skills needed to handle conflicts constructively. This can include workshops on communication skills, negotiation techniques, and emotional intelligence. Well-equipped employees are better prepared to manage conflicts and contribute positively to the workplace environment.
Monitor and Evaluate
Regularly monitoring and evaluating conflict resolution processes ensures their effectiveness. Loeb Leadership suggests assessing the outcomes of conflict resolution efforts and making necessary adjustments. By continuously improving these processes, organizations can better address emerging conflicts and enhance overall workplace harmony.
In summary, resolving workplace conflicts effectively requires a strategic approach rooted in clear communication, early intervention, and a collaborative culture. By applying these strategies from Loeb Leadership, organizations can navigate office politics more effectively, boost employee morale, and improve productivity. Emphasizing these practices not only addresses conflicts but also fosters a more cohesive and productive work environment.
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Resolving Workplace Conflicts: Strategies for Effective Resolution
Resolving Workplace Conflicts: Strategies for Effective Resolution In any workplace, conflicts among employees can arise, leading to tension and decreased productivity. Here are some strategies to effectively resolve disputes:  Strategies for Effective Resolution: Open Communication: Encourage open and honest communication between conflicting parties to understand each otherâs perspectives andâŠ
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In this blog, we'll explore how embracing conflict, with the right mindset, can lead to a more resilient and successful work environment.
Let's debunk the myth that conflict is always detrimental and uncover its potential for positive transformation.
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How To Navigate Conflict in the Workplace
Any workplace will inevitably experience conflict, which can result from various causes. Unresolved disputes, however, can produce a hostile work atmosphere that lowers productivity, increases employee turnover, and reduces morale. Organisations must therefore have excellent conflict management and resolution procedures.
Effects of Conflict in the Workplace
People are less productive and content because they are more agitated and anxious.
Failure and denigration sentiments, which lower spirits and may promote turnover
Less Satisfaction at Work
A Relationship's Damage
Tips To Handle Conflicts at Workplace
Be Aware of the Conflict Keeping watch and monitoring the conflict Clarify the issues Find the cause of the problem
Also, if you are struggling with issues, ask experts and professionals to talk to psychologists about your office issues.
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Mediation in Resolving Workplace Conflicts Conflicts in the workplace are inevitable. Often, they can be resolved between the parties. Miscommunication can occur whenever two or more people are involved in a process. They may have differences in understanding, perspective, or temperament for example. If you are a manager, what should you do to handle these types of situations when they are brought to your attention? If you are asked to mediate between employees here are some ideas to help you. https://www.thelifestyle-blog.com/the-benefits-of-mediation-in-resolving-workplace-conflicts/.
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I call this piece: âDad Taxâ
WIPs under cut :3
#doctorsiren#mob psycho 100#reigen arataka#tome kurata#serizawa katsuya#shigeo kageyama#mp100 dimple#takenaka momozou#tomenaka#digital art#my art#mp100 fanart#aggie.io#magma board#yes it was all on a collab board đđđđ#my dad does this thing where heâll be like: âdad tax!â and then ask for some of our snacks#but Reigen cmon manâŠtakenaka made those for HER đđđ#Reigen is counting this as Serizawaâs âconflict resolution in the workplaceâ training#also bro with the zero fashion sense for his shoes#and Alienware laptop GIUDHIDKDIHK#itâs really funny bc thereâs the scene. and then thereâs sparkly rendered Reigen. and above him is >:3 website photo Reigen#thereâs a random green mark in the middle of the page on one of the leaves but like?? itâs fine lmao
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#employee turnover#increasing wages#worker flexibility#staff workflow#ikea#employee retention#retail industry#covid-19 pandemic#inflation impact#union conflicts#employee benefits#jon abrahamsson ring#inter ikea group#employee satisfaction#global quit rate#childcare benefits#labor market#labor disputes#retail sector#workplace changes
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Content Warning: Workplace conflict, patient mistreatment, acute pain
Volume 1: Isolation
First - Previous - Next - Last
#mlp ask blog#quarantined redheart#pony ask blog#mlp fim#mlp g4#earth pony#nurse redheart#my little pony friendship is magic#pegasus#moonshadow quid#moony#bat pony#volume 1: isolation#cw workplace conflict#cw pain
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About the "fight" between Hen and Chim, Buck and Eddie. I feel like the boys weren't saying she was wrong or anything but Chim definitely had the right to second-guess her decision because from his pov he didn't smell any alcohol and he wanted to push to help the guy so if there was any chance that they both read the situation wrong then they might have caused the guy to die. And this kind of shows what it's like to be the Captain because sometimes you definitely make hard decisions and it can either be right or go really wrong and at the end of the day it will be on you regardless. And also the people working under you will question your judgement because that's just how it is. It kind of shows how Hen still has a lot to learn about leading and being a Captain and about the others not fully trusting another Captain (even though they will completely trust Hen as their co-worker). I like how they're exploring how the dynamics will change if someone close to you gets a promotion and leads you. I like how Hen speaks to Karen and recognises that maybe she overreacted (a sign of a good leader is to admit it when you're wrong) but still tells Maddie not to tell Chim (because she feels betrayed at the thought of her best friend not having her back).
#it was a really fascinating scene#because we get to see workplace dynamics and workplace conflict#sometimes shit like that just happens#911 abc#911 spoilers#episode discussion#hen wilson#chimney han#eddie diaz#evan buck buckley
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if escape rooms as team building exercises became popular im not sure if id be more excited or terrified
#if it isnt already anyway.. i can see it happening as a school frosh thing. idk if it would catch on as a workplace thing#i kind of find the concept of being locked in with strangers and working to find a way out weirdly exhilarating though#at least compared to icebreakers cause i dont have to spend 10 minutes racking my brain for something to blurt out abt myself#as a bonus u could like. put people into groups and give prizes to whoever escapes first second third etc. apparently they also do themed#escape rooms.. maybe let people pick a theme? or voluntary sign up? actually this would be really fun for smth like a blind friend date#although if i found out i was locked in a room with an online friend id be too excited to actually escape LOL#ive never done an escape room before so sadly i cant speak from experience. its like up there on things i want to try next to rug tufting#workshop and visiting new art exhibits or conventions. i seriously need to get out more if it wasnt for the horrors <- school and anxiety#i was planning to invite cass to a drop-in art workshop in town but neither of us could go bc typography is making us go thru hell and back#AND THEY HAD A BUTTON MACHINE TOO#im nostalgic bc i miss working in groups and not being awkward abt it or worrying abt schedule conflicts#i realized that i learn best in groups and its a little corny but i like sharing ideas and talking through a problem#in elementary i could just sit down with friends for review and come out of it energized *and* more familiar with the material#and i could technically still do it now. but as adults we're more picky abt who we work with on top of being way more busy outside school#maybe im lonely. im shy and grew up not talking to ppl unless i absolutely have to so its hard to make friends on my own i guess#only thing getting me thru it is telling myself that humans like helping and that my cringe is overblown in my head. but its hard#hence the escape rooms. i have been able to talk to 2(!!) people though!! mostly abt school stuff but im glad to be on friendly terms#i dont really know how to be happy these days cause im constantly scaring myself abt my portfolio and finding places to work#not being ambitious is part of not wanting to put energy into something that wont work out while also not having the passion to do literall#anything else.. i should probably talk to my counsellor ugh#yapping
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My mother is dropping hints that she wants to move in with me after she retires in a few years which is extra fucking crazy because I live in a one bedroom apartment with my spouse and am nowhere near in a financial position to purchase a house so what does she think is going to happen? Someone sleeps in the fucking living room? I pull the money for a house or a bigger apartment out of my ass?
Also I'm not her best option by a long shot? Her house is nearly paid off and worth bare minimum twice what she paid for it so she could definitely take that money buy something outright if she wanted so idk why she's looking at me (okay well I do know, it's because she's weirdly dependent on me and expects me to manage her life for some fucking reason)
#Not to mention there's no way my spouse would be willing to live with her on account of her being a fucking nightmare#Frankly at this point I'm not even willing#Ugh#The situation that has not been good for some time remains not good who could have guessed#It'd be one thing if she were experiencing significant decline but she isn't#Plus again she could sell her house and move into a senior community which would be more helpful there than moving in with a working adult#Who would not be at home most of the day#Lmao I hate how she expects me to manage her life because half the time she doesn't even fucking listen to me anyway#She wants all this info from me then does whatever the hell she wants#Nothing like being 17 giving your mother advice on conflict resolution in the workplace that she asked for and doesn't even fucking take#Ugh sorry for oversharing I'll delete this in a bit probably
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5 Strategies for Dealing with Difficult Colleagues
In the vast ocean of the professional world, it's common to find unexpected waves in the form of difficult colleagues. Whether it's a clash of personalities, differences in work styles, or conflicting interests, managing workplace conflicts is an art that every professional must master. The truth is, we've all been thereâdealing with a co-worker who is the emerging point of tension through the office.
However, fret not, for this blog is your compass in navigating the tricky terrain of workplace dynamics. We understand that the struggle is real, and conflicts are an inevitable part of professional life. The key is not to avoid them but to face them head-on armed with effective strategies.
Picture this blog as your toolkit, equipped with practical advice and insights to help you not only survive but thrive amidst challenging colleagues.
Read more at selfgrowth.com
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Thinking back on it, I probably stopped caring about X-Men a while after The Last Stand came out- I know I saw that in the theater, but never bothered to check out First Class or any other movies after that- and during the period I was actually collecting comics, "X-Men" as a franchise was being actively buried and Marvel/Disney because Fox owned the film rights, and they did their embarassing failed push to make the Inhumans the new X-Men.
It really is to the credit of the team behind X-Men '97 that it overcame the initial "eugh, this looks like cheap ugly 3D" impression it gave by having Cyclops do Concussive Blast Martial Arts and then do a full season of good episodes to make me go "oh, shit, right, the X-Men are really cool!"
#kinda hope all the hearsay about Beau DeMayo isn't true for a number of reasons#like best case scenario is just he is a passionate creator who is also a brusque asshole to have to work with#and/or that there are just as many people on the team as passionate and good as him without the workplace conflicts#X-Men#X-Men '97#X-Men 97#X-Men: The Animated Series#Marvel#Disney
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have to work w my 40 y/o coworker who says things like at least im straight white and cis đ€ in relation to any hardships trans/gay/POC face. pray for meeee. or maybe pray for HIM
#this is the same guy who does lord help us allllllll Thought Experiments#that are just like. what his last one was smth like workplace equality living wages for all etc but for some reason#there is a caveat and that caveat is womenâs healthcare is completely taken away#the other option is the inverse of the first#which would you choose#and i was like hey man. as someone who was sexually assaulted and has faced gender-based discrimination in life and work: this isnât fun#or thought provoking for me! iâm glad other peoples trials can be some kind of inconsequential game for u#heâs insufferable is what iâm saying#other good one was if i was hypothetically on trial and the judge had to for some reason use my dead name or allude to my gender change#would i correct the judge. like what the fuck can you think about important things please#OR bdbfbdhdhsjsjshfbfbfhdjjsksebbf. he tells me that racism is nuanced. and the palestine/israel conflict is Complicated#what if i killed you. just like. something to consider. how about that for a thought experiment bitch
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for @nosebleedclub october prompt #11 - "lawyer's office". i did write this yesterday, just horribly later posting ^^. .
lawyerâs office
.Â
They fill up the room that morning, the way young people always do. Hands shoved deep inside the pockets of washed out, baggy jeans, long torsos awkwardly hunched forwards, cotton jumpers with uneven strings peeking out at the base of their sternums and hoods thrown back like inverted necklaces around their shoulders. T-shirts with large logos and GAA colours. There is a pile of crumpled bank notes tossed against the scratched, ageing mahogany desk in front of them, hazardously left to die between the three-inch-thick Sweeney file and a copy of last yearâs edition of Blackstoneâs Civil Practice. They have emptied the full contents of their wallets, including the packaged condom one of them hastily hid back within the folds, a loud cough turning his cheeks red like a sleety, winter day.
âThat enough?â Liam finally dares to ask. âWe counted it up, should be about 120 -â
They can sit down, start at the beginning. The money will be a problem for later.
âWell, itâs our landlord,â another boy starts. He is short and broad, the nose of a boxer.Â
âYeah, heâs a cunt -â
âAh, stop -â
âAlright, yeah. Iâm just saying. So.â
Itâs a house-share. Cabra, up in Dublin 7, six people crammed into the old bones of a brick-layered former two-up-two-down. There is an ageing extension, one thatâs falling apart, and the foxes eat the mice in the back garden at night. âNow, your man, right? The one on the second? Well, he broke the floor of his ensuite shower, weâre not sure how, but -â
âProbably shagging that girl whoâs been - you know the one with the -â another bearded one interrupts, miming large half-circles over his chest -
Liam shoots him a look. This is not the right place. In the silence that follows, he takes over from Shorty - his voice is softer and more cautious. Embarrassed to be here, almost. âWell, anyway. Heâs not paying his end of the rent, so our landlord wonât fix it. Until he pays, right? But then every time he showers - well. It, like, proper rains in our sitting room, so -â He smiles a little, shy. There is a moment of collective contemplation at the difficulty of this conundrum, at the relative guilt of consulting a lawyer behind the other oneâs back, too. Thereâs probably a reason heâs not paying rent. Liam further adds that he tried to talk to their landlord, threatened him with going to the PRTB, but got laughed at in response. âSaid heâd kick us out to do the renovation works. Fix the shower, then find twenty Brazilians willing to sleep on bunk beds and fill up the place, âŹ500 a head, you know? So, I suppose we were wondering if -â
The young lad eyes the money again, nodding at it like itâll respond. When he looks up, his gaze is pleading. âAnyway, we were hoping you could, you know, write a letter or something?â
A law degree is the right to use big words on expensive stationery.Â
.
Liamâs been here before, of course. He is familiar with the dĂ©cor, the exhausted shelves that line the walls, the yellow glow of a bankerâs lamp on winter afternoons, when the sky is too dark outside and the rain lashes against the windows. There is a faux-persian rug that frames the centre of the office and the lawyer replaced it once, back in the day. Perhaps, because of the old English setter that used to sleep in the corner and scratched it, and scratched it, and probably peed on it too many times. Perhaps, because of the dark stains that cups of tea and coffee had made over the years, or because of the vomit of a baby. This isnât the kind of general practice that facilitates yearly visits by tracking heights or flu shots, but it is still the kind of general practice that watches people grow. Decades apart sometimes, the space in which they all happily go on to live their lives, but Liamâs crawled on the floorboards during appointments before, and as a teenager, he played on his tablet with his headphones blasting in the waiting room, dragged by parents who were worried sick, and often didnât know what else to do with him. Â
The first time he attends, he isnât even born yet. Playing football against her ribs under the soft curve of a rounding belly - she is a beautiful young woman, Louise. The brightest, kindest of blue eyes - pale skin and warm freckles on her skin, long blond hair that is definitely bleached but sure, you canât have everything. She works as a secretary in an office - it is the early 2000s so probably pharma or tech or something - they donât call her a secretary, she says, but an assistant. Her mother likes it. âNot that itâs any different,â she corrects, polite and a bit shy, her fingers crossing over her stomach. She is small and thin, a stark contrast with the baby she carries. âIt pays well, right?â
She wants it to stop, though. Wants to know if they can sack her if she says something to HR. âThe other girls wonât talk,â she adds, rolling her eyes. âI mean heâs doing it to all of us. Itâs not just me.â There were the comments and the jokes and the âaccidentalâ gropes - he even tried to force himself on her in his office once, kissed her and shoved his fingers inside her pants. She was too scared to do anything - thank God his boss knocked, interrupted, she caveats again, shaking her head quickly at the memory. Since then, sheâs managed to avoid him. âHe wonât look at me now, anyway,â she shrugs, smiling and caressing her belly again. âNot with the baby.âÂ
She wants to make sure sheâs protected. Itâs what her friend told her, that they couldnât let her go until sheâs back from mat leave. âHe wonât even have us close the office on our own, says there needs to be a man present at all times to supervise, that weâre not capable.â Louise bats her eyelashes quickly and blows her nose into a tissue. âOh, youâre very kind. I donât think thereâs a need to go to the guards for that, honestly.â Her mouth forms a laugh but no sound comes out. It may very well be a criminal offence, but getting the police involved? Itâs not like her, and they have much more important things to deal with, surely. Heâs just an arsehole. âI suppose I donât want it to start up again when Iâm back though,â she sighs. âAnd, for the others, you know?âÂ
She answers questions carefully, dutifully. She has the facts down and has made note of the dates and of the emails, and yes, she thinks there may be CCTV in the corridors, at least. She doesnât know what the retention period is. And, no, she has not told her husband about this. âHeâd just be raging. Can it stay between us, please?â
She has a charming smile, Louise. And a law degree, sometimes, pays for the welcome sound of silence rather than that of the advice.
.
He is injured when she reappears, a few years later. It is 2004 or 2005, by then, and he is hoisting himself up the stairs on crutches out on Merrion Square. She is holding the door open, politely shaking hands, and yes, she is still working at that same job, she confirms, chit-chatting as he labours up. This isnât the right time or the right place to ask what happened with HR and it turns out that a lawyerâs office is rarely one of finished stories. Moments in life are stacked like bricks, like files on shelves, and the spines list client numbers rather than names, themselves always a secret.Â
She is crying proper, this time around. Was so scared when the hospital called. Their son, Liam, is crawling on the floor now, bright red hair and freckles - four-years-old and vroom-vroom-cars-Iâve-a-blue-one-and-a-yellow-one-did-you-see-that? He pets the dog, slow and gentle - Charlieâs an old man, you know? Darren almost died, Louise explains. She speaks low and covers her mouth, constantly throwing looks back at the floor behind her shoulder, trying to convince herself that her son isnât listening to them. Darren, on the other hand, is silent and mellow. He looks down, uncomfortable on the faux-leather upholstery of the chairs that face the desk. His legs extend, then retract - once, twice. He massages his knee. He does construction, he explains in a grunt. A wall fell on top of him. Heâs fine. âStop it,â Louise snaps. The doctors werenât even sure heâd walk.
Theyâre saying itâs his fault, now, though. The company. Theyâre saying he wasnât wearing the proper equipment. âNo one does. Itâs a joke,â he groans. They just donât want to pay.Â
There are norms specific to personal injury in those types of circumstances, apparently. A question to answer as to the burden of proof, too. Do they even have proof? And: do they have to prove Darren wasnât wearing the equipment, or does he have to prove that he was? Itâs probably lost somewhere within endless volumes of workersâ regulations. In terms of public policy, itâs hopefully the former. It would make sense. That could be looked up.Â
âWell, we donât want to burden you too much,â Louise smiles, sniffling. She is holding her husbandâs hand like a lifeline and he is stiff in his posture. They donât have the money to be too much of a burden, it turns out. They were doing so well, so much better than the generation before theirs. The boom of the Celtic Tiger years and a delusional belief in trickle-down economics - they had a nice house and a baby, and they were thinking of having a second, eventually. âIâm obviously still working,â she adds, now, swallowing, âbut Darrenâs on benefits and with the mortgageâŠâ
Itâll be okay. Something will be arranged. The trainee can have a look. If thereâs something, a no-win-no-fee route is always a possibility. It is a route that will not be preferred by the short, balding man who comes in once a month to grumble at the office books and pick up VAT receipts, but maybe that man was just born sad, who knows? The conveyancing side pays well, people down in Sandymount have too much money on their hands. Darren agrees. When heâs better, heâll come back to incorporate his own business, maybe. He leaves smiling. She nods and sighs at the same time.Â
Go on, look after yourself, yeah? A law degree isnât a medical one.Â
.
There was some money in the settlement. Not much but it covered the bills and the physio appointments, and Darren was able to pour the rest into the launch of Roddyâs Construction Ltd the moment the painkillers allowed him to stand up straight again. They couldnât eternally survive on Louiseâs salary and it gave him something to do other than sit on the couch, drinking cans and wallowing. They were happy for a bit, until 2008 rolled its ugly head around, that is. The equity became negative on everybodyâs lips and within two years, Roddyâs Construction Ltd was forced out of existence. It was 2011 and their child was ten and in the lawyerâs office again, the clerk passed around an old Game Boy for him to wait. Louiseâs tears were now dry as she signed the papers on the desk with a tight smile. âWell, I suppose at least this will allow us to keep the house a bit longer, right?â
Her mother died. Breast cancer, it turns out. There was âŹ43,752 in the estate, which her brother in America is graciously letting her have in full. âHeâs, er -â Louise presses her lips together. Has aged a little, soft lines on her forehead and her hair cut to her shoulders. âThey donât need it,â she states. âHe and Lauren, theyâve - theyâve done quite well for themselves. Even with the crisis, itâs -â She shakes her head again. There is a hint of irony and something else in her voice when she suggests: âMaybe I should have gone to America, do you think?â
Darren isnât with her today. He didnât believe it was necessary for him to attend anything past the funeral, and even that, he probably only attended because the notice on RIP.ie announced there would be a gathering at the pub afterwards. He has lots of friends there. The owner, in chief, maybe because her husband keeps the business running. Holds the walls with his presence, like a pillar on the stools at the bar. No, sheâs being mean. Heâs tried to take on a few odd jobs in a meat-packing factory near his parentsâ in Drogheda a few months back. But: his knees are killing him and Louise says she feels guilty sometimes, with her functioning limbs and all the things she canât understand; he is frying his brain cells with weed to make it stop. Maybe, oops, she shouldnât have told the lawyer that. âI dunno how he pays for it,â she lets out. âIt is what it is, you know? Thanks, anyway. For the will and everything, I mean.â
She grabs her sonâs Cars backpack off the floor by the entrance and they get a move on. With another tired smile, she closes the door behind her.Â
A law degree is the sigh that follows.Â
.
Liam is fourteen, now. Theyâve left him outside again, though for once, this is ostensibly about him. Perhaps, he should be here. âYouâll talk to him, right?â Louise pleads. âPlease -â
âWhat the fuck will the lawyer talk to him about?â There is the voice of outrage in Darren again, his arms thrown up in the air. âIâm the one who should be giving him a fucking lecture, Iâm his father -â
âYeah, and where the fuck were you? Countless times I tried to ring you -â
She was the one who had to get the bus to pick Liam up from the Garda station, last night. Their little baby boy. Got caught trying to nick a bunch of Canada Goose puffer jackets off a shop - the two older kids he was with were held up for the night. Liam being younger, though, and it being the first time - the guards werenât stupid, for once. They called his parents rather than a judge, and -
âI was fucking busy.â Darren is defending himself. The best defence is always attack, thatâs what they say anyway. âAnd, itâs you - youâre too kind to him. Always buying him shite he canât pay for -â
âHeâs in school. Heâs fourteen -â
âWell, I worked when I was fourteen -â
âWell, you certainly donât work now -â
She is being unfair, he claims. He and his friend Darragh are opening up a new car repair shop down in Rialto. She easily clocks off at six from her cosy corporate gig every day, but he has things to do. Their son gets arrested for stealing now, and whatâs next? She is too lax with him. That scene she made the one time (one time!) he dared yell at Liam. Boys need discipline. Whatâs next? Selling drugs?
âOh, and you wouldnât want the competition in the house, would you?â
He storms out. Leaves her alone to silently cry again on the chair with the squeaky plastic leather that has scarred overtime. Itâs okay. The officer on speakerphone echoing in the lawyerâs office confirmed they wouldnât be pressing charges. There is no need for her to worry. She apologises. Shouldnât have said that. Not here. She insists (insists, insists and promises) that Darren doesnât sell drugs, she just said it like that. There is silence. Darren hasnât been employed or had a successful venture in years. Theyâve managed to keep the house. Theyâve got a new car, a Mercedes that roared down the road when her husband took off just now. Neither he nor Darragh know how to fix cars, and everyone knows the kind of crowd that hangs around in Rialto. She works as a contractor for Facebook now, reviewing flagged content for days on end on a computer screen. It pays âŹ24,000 a year. They required an undergraduate degree on the job posting, which she faked on her CV, and sheâs been scared they would find out ever since.Â
A broken, teary smile as she reaches for the tissues on the desk again. She has calmed down. Itâll be alright. A law degree on the wall doesnât turn an office into a police station. Actually, perhaps the opposite.Â
.
It is somewhat inevitable. It funds most of the small, general practices around the world, after all. She says: âItâll be amicable.â There is a pause. âI hope.âÂ
Louise came alone this time. Liam is in school. She does not need the tissues, she is grand, thanks, jokes that she has grieved already. The lawyerâs office is the bearer of bad news: they will have to live separated for four years before the divorce is pronounced. Many people donât know that, itâs an odd quirk in the law, the state finding it hard to cut off the many, winding tentacles the Catholic Church has wrapped around it for centuries. It sucks the blood out of people and families. Louise smiles. They at least got gay marriage last year, didnât they?
Liam is living with her, she explains. They found a small one-bed in the Liberties. She sleeps on the sofa. âIâm applying to work for Facebook proper, now,â she smiles. Hopefully itâll pay more. âI love him,â she explains. But she got married at nineteen and had the baby at twenty and didnât think it would be this hard. âMaybe, didnât think at all,â she admits. âHeâs a good kid. He was just a bit stupid for a while. Acting out. Heâs been doing better since we left home, since itâs just the two of us. He doesnât want to see Darren anymore, I -â
Her friends tell her itâll be fine. She is thirty-five. She is still so young. There is irony in her voice again when she says: âMaybe Iâll meet someone, right?â She doesnât sound like she means it. She sounds like she wants to be left alone. She nervously toys with her wedding ring, still at the base of her finger. âI loved him,â she declares, then. âI love him. I always felt that if I left, I was abandoning him. He changed. After the accident, you know? Or maybe I did. I canât save him. He doesnât want to be saved, I donât think. Dâyou remember when we first came to you? When we bought the house back in 2000?â
It was an easy purchase and conveyancing is always a good way to rope new clients in. They got the lawyerâs address off of Darrenâs sister, back then. The seller loved them. They made a good offer, had stable jobs and a decent interest rate. He worked in construction and she was an assistant. Theyâd found a property they liked in a gentrifying residential area in Drumcondra. He was from Kildare and sheâd grown up in Meath. Theyâd met through friends in the city. Were just about to get married. Her ring was big and shiny and showy, even if it was just moissanite. He wanted people to know - see - that he loved her. He took her on a trip to New York that winter.Â
âThereâs someone else I think,â Louise admits, then. Another pause. Her bright blue eyes look up again. âI donât know. I donât want to know.â She shakes her head. âHe is begging me to stay.â
She doesnât. She gets herself a decent lawyer and she doesnât stay.
.
Liam is nineteen now. His friends file out of the office in a concert of jokes and playful shoves, an army of bikes locked around the streetlamps outside.
His mamâs good, he nods, once. Moved out to Bray a couple years back and she likes it there. Has set up a small shop that sells artisanal jewellery and does the markets. He hasnât seen his dad in a while, but on the phone he sounded alright. Got in a bit of trouble with the guards a few years back, but - âIt is what it is, like.â There is not much else to be said; this is watercooler conversation, not the real kind, and the lawyerâs office isnât a doctorâs office, and it also not a therapistâs. The lawyerâs office focuses on Family law, Criminal Law, Employment Law Disputes, Personal Injury, Wills and Probate; it says so on the website. A law degree is not one that saves anyone, itâs just a prism through which to watch hundreds of lives go by.Â
Liamâs lips curve a little further to one side; he bites his lip with something daring in his gaze. âIâm doing law. In college, you know?â
And, perhaps, the landlord will fix the shower. At the very least, right?
#tw: sa#lawblr#writeblr#short story#original writing#original fiction#contemporary fiction#family drama#workplace harrassment#financial struggles#divorce#coming of age#irish fiction#emotional conflict#realistic fiction#lawyers#workplace injury#character-driven#slow burn
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