BUSINESS
CAREERS
Crying
Continued From Page 25
Ohnjec said. “It is important to
create and then maintain a
boundary between your per-
sonal and professional worlds.
Being at work can be a great
diversion. Think of work as a
rest stop from the personal
issues. Give yourself permission
to focus on something other
than your personal life.”
Where and when you cry is
also important, he added. “If
you really can’t prevent the
tears, try to go somewhere pri-
vate like behind the closed door
of your office (if you have one)
or the restroom so you can
gather yourself. You may even
consider taking a walk around
the block or grabbing a coffee to
put more distance between
yourself and the situation.”
While lawyers have been
welling up and breaking down,
since the first shingle was hung,
there may be greater pressure
on legal professionals today.
“Anecdotally we do seem to hear
an increased number of calls
regarding these issues,” said
Bull. “As employees deal with
the changing economy, evolving
family structures and expecta-
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tions, and many workplace
changes, it does appear that
individuals’ emotional health is
being impacted.”
Two other factors are also at
play, Wilkie said. “To a large
extent this higher level of stress is
exacerbated by higher service
expectations of clients, and higher
career expectations by younger
lawyers. Clients are asking for
more service often in a shorter
time, and there is pressure to
respond. At the same time, differ-
ent attitudes and communication
styles of the generations in the
legal workplace make it more dif-
ficult to work difficulties through.
Hence, problems can stay under
the surface until they explode.”
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EXPERIENCED – PROGRESSIVE – COMMUNITY-MINDED:
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30 cases at the Ontario Court of Appeal
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