I have represented employees in employment matters for over 15 years. For a great many persons, it was the worst experience of their lives. Even after losing their jobs, some lost their homes, their families, and much of their former life. It was horrendous. I have also helped small business owners. But, for many employees, a job dispute is such a single, overarching issue.
The only other thing I have done in my life with greater pressure and a greater sense of reward was going to war. I deployed to Iraq in 2005 as a Reserve officer. Serving in a combat zone where *every* decision has some potential impact on people living or dying was incredibly rewarding but also incredible pressure. Such an experience puts the pressure of a lawsuit in different perspective. If the terrorists could not kill me, how worried do I need to be about opposing counsel or a judge in a lawsuit??
And, of course, when you lose a buddy in war, you do appreciate that things that used to seem so awful may not be that bad. If you are still alive, after all, how bad can things really be? I know many employees feel they are going through the worst time of their life. But, remember, you are still alive, after all. So, yes, as bad as things really are, it could be worse……