"And get me the manuscript of the as-yet unpublished Harry Potter book for the twins"
Picking up the dry cleaning and buying the Christmas presents? That's nothing! Try selecting an anniversary gift for the Boss' notoriously picky wife. Peeling an apple (!) because the boss doesn't like the taste of apple skins. Organising a Sweet Sixteen birthday party? Hmmmm:
- On the one hand, this is pointless, thoughtless behaviour on the part of the boss.
- On the other hand, the courts frown upon this kind of thing - particularly if it can be painted as demeaning (and it frequently is) or outside of the 'normal' duties and responsibilities of the person's role.
- On the other hand [my oh-so useful alien third hand] this behaviour is also pathetic. It evinces a kind of learned helplessness on the part of the boss when it comes to minor, real-world, activities and where it broaches, as it so often does, into the boss' family matters, it bespeaks a level of distance and disinterestedness that does not bode well.
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3 comments:
I was once asked to do the 'cleaning run' many lives ago and I said "Certainly!"
I went to the cleaners and then for a coffee not returning to the office for two hours. The manager enquired if everything was alright. "Perfect" I replied "Since it was ok to do your personal business on office time, I decided to do some of my own!"
Needless to say I was never asked to do anything like that again ;)
I have to agree that this is just pathetic on the part of a manager. If you can't manage your day-to-day life, why are you managing people? Especially in smaller companies where the admin likely has other people to support (in an actual work-related capacity)this is the kind of self-important message that makes my skin crawl.
What makes someone think this is acceptable??
Granny & Karen - Yes! Ridiculous that anyone would expect that kind of 'service' from a skilled administrative assistant.
I came across one other approach which really worked, whereby the PA in question was a model of efficiency and skill for all real-work activities and somehow managed to bungle all the personal stuff she was asked to do. Very subtly done and it gradually drove the message home.
It reminds me of the advice given to young grooms on their wedding day - do everything that your wife asks you to do. Do it quickly, willingly and badly ...
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