It was just before 10am on Friday when an email hit the inboxes of hundreds of Slater and Gordon employees that, regardless of its veracity, would spark an immediate investigation by the firm and cause workplace ructions for weeks to come.
Purportedly sent by out-going chief people officer Mari Ruiz-Matthyssen, the email at first appeared to be a handover to her replacement, Julie Catanach, who has yet to start at the firm.
Myriam Robin is a senior writer based in the Melbourne newsroom. She has previously been a Rear Window columnist and editor, and before that reported on financial markets and media. Connect with Myriam on Twitter. Email Myriam at myriam.robin@afr.com