Sunday 23 October 2022 02:16 AM LinkedIn post about female CEO of Travis Schultz and Partners sparks debate trends now
Female lawyers are seething about what they believe is a sexist and patronising LinkedIn post by a partner at a prestigious law firm after he posted photos of the company CEO vacuuming the office.
Senior lawyer Trent Johnson posted the images of his boss, Kelly Phelps, in smart office wear and a high heels running a Dyson-style stick vacuum over the carpet at Travis Shultz and Partners' office in Brisbane this week.
In one of the photos, Ms Phelps - who Mr Johnson reveals started as the firm's administration assistant and worked as a paralegal before becoming CEO - appears not to know she's being photographed.
In the second photo, posted alongside a message saying 'thanks for unloading the dishwasher, too!' Ms Phelps is caught smiling, with the vacuum off to one side.
On LinkedIn, Mr Johnson accompanied the photos with a lengthy caption which said: 'I'm a firm believer that true leaders are those that set the best example, not only in front of the team but also when no one is watching.
'It's no use talking the talk and walking the walk if behind closed doors you're a different person.
'This is our CEO Kelly Phelps... She's done the hard yards and has her own family commitments but still gets in early and before all the phones start ringing makes sure we look professional.
Brisbane law firm CEIO Kelly Phelps vacuuming the company's office carpet in an image posted by a senior partner who also thanked her for emptying the office dishwasher
Senior partner Trent Johnson's post about his firm's CEO doing the office housework has caused a blow-up on Facebook by women lawyers who urged him to 'sow some respect' and 'hire a cleaner'
Compensation law partner Trent Johnson's post on Linkedin about his CEO attracted good comments from colleagues but it was a different story on a female lawyer's chat forum
'She's not your typical CEO, in a good way. And by the way Kel, thanks for unloading the dishwasher too!'
Below his post colleagues and associates commented 'Go Kel!' and, from another woman, 'service leadership is always the best'.
Most praised Mr Johnson for his post - including Ms Phelps who said it was a 'great post'.
A male principal of another Brisbane law firm gushed 'You're a superstar!!! I saw a list of values from a start-up in the US last year and one of their values read: 'We are all floor sweepers'.
'I loved what that statement implies, and you are demonstrating that perfectly: No one is above picking up a broom (... or a vacuum, or emptying the dishwasher).'
But it appears that a group of female lawyers were not so enthusiastic about Mr Johnson's post, believing that he, and other male lawyers, should be cleaning up the office.
On a private Facebook forum, Lawyer Mums Australia, one female lawyer fumed: 'Talk about propagating a stereotype?!
'This post has done it for me today. How about the male partner who posted this unload the dishwasher.
Trent Johnson posted online that his CEO 'did the hard yards' and made their prestigious firm's office look good by vacuuming and emptying the dishwasher
Mr Johnston's comments and his photos of the female boss doing the office housework did not impress an online forum of women lawyers who accused him of 'propagating a stereotype' and adding menial work to her CEO responsibilities
'(To) top it off he's getting comments from people saying how he is a good leader for the 'shout out'.
'And yes I
