#working life

[vintage-tigre]

[inthemoodforblastt]

I don’t know if this is a very personal question if it is, don’t answer it but aren’t you afraid of working with criminals? I understand that if it’s a thief, maybe not, but aren’t you afraid of being with someone who has stabbed people?

I don’t have any problem answering these kinds of questions, I’m actually quite open about my work, the cases I handle, and the people I come across lmao.

But no, honestly, I’m not afraid of common criminals. What scares me more is people who have enough money to avoid prison but still run entire mafia-like networks behind the scenes, for example. That’s what I encountered in my first law firm, which was basically a firm for rich clients famous for handling several political corruption cases and winning them (and people from Spain who know my region will understand the level I’m talking about). And basically, they dealt with a lot of shady stuff for wealthy people who are out there in their suits and high-level jobs, and they’re complete functional psychopaths. Those people do scare me more, because they walk around freely, have the resources to avoid consequences, and believe they are untouchable.

A “common” criminal who has been in prison for drugs or assaults or similar things often comes from a background of addiction, lack of resources, and extreme marginalisation. They get trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, dependency, and lack of support, often combined with addiction, which is very common, and in most cases the crimes are a result of that addiction or its normalisation. Several of my current cases had their first arrest before the age of 15 because they basically grew up in environments where earning money meant stealing, and where drugs were something you started using as soon as you could walk. The case that impressed me the most was a man who tried heroin for the first time at 13, and it was given to him by his own older brother, who at the time must have been around 16. These are mostly people who come from very dysfunctional families and extremely marginal environments. Some of them even grew up in shantytowns and what we understand as basic civic rules they only learn once they get to prison through integration programs. People who left school at 12 or 13, many with absent fathers, many with parents already involved in drugs, even people who were born with withdrawal syndrome. And many who, due to drugs, have developed mental illnesses of a psychotic type. I mostly deal with people who, as a result of abuse, have developed bipolar disorder or paranoid schizophrenia. Very hard lives.

The thing is, they are people who are outside the system because they were born outside the system. So you can’t expect them to understand a system they were never part of, one that has always rejected them and never put resources in place to intervene early. And social services have a lot of limitations with these cases too. What you see with these people is that when they actually try to reintegrate socially, even when they have tools and resources, many of them have external emotional burdens like family or people from their past who make it very difficult for them. I shouldn’t have favourites, but one of my cases—a man I’m very fond of—has had several relapses because he has a brother who is a piece of shit and constantly contacts him to emotionally blackmail him for money and insults him for trying to reintegrate, and every time he gets hit like that he ends up relapsing into substance use, which then violates his parole conditions. It’s a complicated cycle. And he’s my personal blorbo but don’t tell anyone i have a 48yo son please.

What I can say is that they are very grateful people, they have a lot of code. To me, to psychologists, social workers, caregivers, my other legal colleague… for them the support system is like the family they never had, or at least the safe space they were always missing. And if you give them a bit of appreciation, acceptance, or affection, they respond with double that. I’m the “bad cop” and a bit of the strict paternal authority figure, but the social caregivers who spend most of the day with them, they absolutely adore them, they put them on a pedestal. They give a lot of love because they are very deprived of it, and as soon as you treat them like human beings they respond quite well.

I remember when I started, I had to go to a place in a rough neighbourhood in the city and one of the guys told me he would come with me because he wasn’t going to let me go alone—it was too dangerous—and if someone who had been “scum” told me that, I had to take it seriously. I remember saying, “Wow, what a gentleman you are, huh?” and he replied, “Well, in another life I would’ve stolen even your shoes, but now that’s not who I am anymore.” And honestly, that dark humour won me over forever.

But no, I actually trust these people more than I trust random people I might meet at a party, because I know they won’t lay a finger on me. Plus, they’re heavily medicated, the poor things are like harmless little puppies. There’s one who has been in almost every prison in Spain and now he spends his time making little bracelets and necklaces and giving them to everyone he meets, he’s genuinely a sweetheart. I find more dangerous any rando on Tinder than them.

[sinensis26]

I'm really passionate about volunteer work, but my dudes, its a struggle sometimes:

- "Come to our meetings!" Meetings are at 10:30am on the first Tuesday of every month.

- "Go online and email our Director to join!" Email is either an undeliverable address, or is never returned.

- "Check us out on Facebook!". Dont have Facebook, not getting Facebook. Theres no other online presence.

- "Apply online!" Website last updated in 2018, application link broken.

- By some miracle, you actually find a meeting time and attend- Its 3-5 elderly people who spend the first half hour talking about their kids/ grandkids, the next ten complaining about how young people dont care about anything, and then adjourn early because theres not much else to discuss.

[iamnmbr3]

Jobs listings be like:

Bachelors degree.

Demonstrated experience using Microsoft Office.

Can-do attitude and ability to work well with others.

Communication skills.

15 years experience at a Sr. Director level or higher.

Salary: not listed

[lynx-tales]

I’m sorry, no, I can’t come in today. Well, you see, I have simply the most awful case of Cozy in Bed, I’m afraid. No, no, you shan’t see me tomorrow either. You know how these things go.

[iibislintu]

somehow in nine years i've apparently transformed from a newbie in my job to a seasoned professional, and the funny thing is, the only change i've noticed is that i'm way more myself at work nowadays.

the kids do keep getting younger every year though.

[bitchesgetriches]

I recently decided to leave a job of 11 years I really loved for a position that is honestly a better move for me professionally. But I've really regretted making this decision and I've been so upset over leaving a role/workplace I really loved. I was wondering if either of the bitches ever felt this way? I'm telling myself this feeling is temporary and I'll grow to love the new job too (I'm basically doing the same thing, just at a higher level in a different place) but I've had to stop myself multiple times from reaching out to my old boss and begging to come back.

Oh wow, this sounds hella familiar!

When I left book publishing to be an editor in another industry, I experienced a lot of grief about what I viewed as my professional calling. But it got better! Maybe my thoughts along this journey will be helpful to you:

I Hate My Job and I Don't Know How To Leave It: A Confession 

A New Job, a New Day, a New Life, and I'm Feeling Good 

I Lost My Job and It Might Be the Best Worst Thing That’s Ever Happened to Me 

My Career Transition Succeeded When I Gave Fewer Fucks, Made More Friends, and Had More Fun