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I started at my firm in November. We had a virtual orientation and have been WFH ever since, but more attorneys (all partners) are starting to go in, including some first years. My spouse and I are both higher risk due to autoimmune conditions and I’m not at all comfortable going into an office right now. Cases are at all time highs in my city. The firms keeps assuring us that going in is completely optional and not at all expected, and my billables are good so far despite working remotely, but I can’t shake the feeling that continuing to WFH until my spouse and I are vaccinated (hopefully soon since we have pre-existing conditions) is going to harm my career. I don’t want to be partner or anything, but I don’t want to be iced out because I’m not getting the Facetime other first years are getting. I can’t help but be frustrated with my firm for making me feel like I have to choose between my health and my career. Any advice?

Don't worry about getting iced, worry about getting chilled. You have to chill like your life depends on it.

As long as large numbers of your colleagues are using WFH, the teams you're on are working from home, and nobody of importance has asked you to come in and you've declined them, this isn't worth freaking out about to any degree. The whole covid affair is unpredictable and before you know it, cases rising will lead to more shutdowns and the boys who are back in town will find themselves back at home, chilling, as you should.

avenuem wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:51 pm

Don't worry about getting iced, worry about getting chilled. You have to chill like your life depends on it.

As long as large numbers of your colleagues are using WFH, the teams you're on are working from home, and nobody of importance has asked you to come in and you've declined them, this isn't worth freaking out about to any degree. The whole covid affair is unpredictable and before you know it, cases rising will lead to more shutdowns and the boys who are back in town will find themselves back at home, chilling, as you should.

Thank you for the response.

I would say 80% of my firm is still WFH, and only one partner in my group is going in regularly. No one has asked me to come in, but the other first years on my team are starting to go in, and I’m worried people will notice that they’re going in and I’m not.

I really would not stress about this. Even before COVID, lots of associates primarily worked with partners in different offices without issues. As long as you do good work, I would not worry at all about being iced out. If you were gunning for partner, it’s possible you could miss out on some social capital, but all the juniors need to do is be reliable, responsive, and work hard.

And even if the answer were different at your specific firm, it shouldn’t actually change anything for you. This job is not worth your health and it’s not hard to lateral.