Boss ask you do to something that is not 'workplace' related?

[susans]

The poll on the home page is "How often does your boss ask you do to something that is not 'workplace' related? (E.g. something for spouse/partner, kids, reservations for dinner, etc)"  It appears occasionally is the leaderfor both UK and US, what types of tasks have you done that aren't work related for your boss, doesn't have to be your current one.  Any interesting stories?  

I actually fall under the category of rarely.  I did send boxes of chocolates to one bosses family mother and wife on a regular basis.  I made dinner arrangements several times but that is all I can remember doing.

[adminbydesign]

Many years ago, I worked for a man (who was the only owner of the company) who had me type up papers for his kids.  This usually was not a problem, and he always thanked me separately and had the kids thank me, too, so I didn't think it was out of line.

I had a boss who had me go to his house during the day, every work day for a week, to let his dog out.  His wife was away on vacation and he didn't have time to go home.  He gave me the keys to his car and didn't expect me to use my vehicle.  I got out of the office for an extra hour each day and got to use his killer stereo system in his car (I was really young then).

Just this past week, I picked up my boss' wife and two sons at home and took them to the airport so they could fly out and meet him.  He had flown to his parents' home earlier that week because his father was critically ill.  I am so glad that I was able to help them in this circumstance, because the whole family was there that evening, and his father died early the next morning.

I like to think that we do favors for people we know (and, most of the time, like) and if the circumstances were reversed, they would do the same for us.  Most of the people I have worked for have done personal favors for me in return.

[misslynn]

I'm in the rarely category as well, but happily do so when he does ask for my assistance.  Just last week he asked me to call his wife to help book air travel for her mother, they'd never purchased an airplane ticket before and I'm a master at travel so it was no problem.  Took me about 45 seconds.

[Jackie G]

I would include dinner arrangements and organising flowers etc as all part of the job.  You're not just there to do paperwork etc, if you're a true right hand person, then you do all that without thinking.

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org

[msmarieh]

At my current position, it was explained clearly during the interview that my boss got a personal assistant as well as an executive assistant and that any request he made was expected to be completed, regardless of if it were business or personal. So I help with any number of personal areas (nothing unethical, fortunately, as he is an extremely ethical boss).

In prior positions, it has depended on the level of the person I supported. Generally the higher the position, the more personal things were allowed. They actually don't bother me at all, as I like getting out of the office once in a while to run errands if they can't be done on the phone. I did have one boss that made some unethical requests (which I declined to do), such as buying a fake ID for his underage girlfriend. In general though, most of his requests were fairly simple (like getting him on the VIP list of a nightclub - can you tell he liked to party when he wasn't working?).

Most of my positions supporting lower or mid level managers had very little personal requests, as it would have been frowned upon by the company.

Marie

[diamondlady]

I've gone to the bank for bossie, and that would mean, ok you can leave half hour early so you can get to the bank before closing, ok, no problem there.

Also, I've gone as far as trying to track lost luggage while he was on the road, which really isn't a personal thing, but made life easier for him while he was tied up in meetings all day.

Gone so far as to offering to bring his own lunch to him because I was headed out anyway.

He's a very good guy, he'll do the same for me sometimes, ie, if he's going to lunch, want to come and bossie will buy.

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

[geminigirl]

Now that I've moved jobs, I get to do personal things only rarely and as new boss is approaching retirement age, and without a partner, that's certainly no problem!

My last job, however, was full of personal things.  Some I didn't mind, others were a bit beyond ...I worked for two chaps (board/CEO-level) and one a batchelor, one not.  The most testing for the married one (and one which I thought wife could've done) was search for a cleaning lady for their home, and also for kennels for their dogs!  

Oh, and find a particular brand of rabbit poison :-)

The batchelor one had me taking his clothes to the dry cleaners, waiting at his cottage for the Aga man to call, buying his aftershave in bulk (why he couldn't get it at Duty Free (after I'd booked all his holiday travel!) like normal people was beyond me) and also bulk buying perfume for his mother ... delivering and collecting his photos ... the list is endless.

I am SO glad I don't work for them now!