For one boss, I had to find him a new apartment after he and his wife separated, then wait for the cable guy after he'd moved in. For another, I had to go to his house and search the bedroom closet for a black belt--he had a board meeting to attend and had forgotten his belt, but his wife was out of town and the housekeeper didn't speak a word of English so she couldn't help me; take the car in for servicing, make haircut appointments, some of the usual stuff PAs do.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

You weren't set up and the best thing for you to do is stay out of it. If someone says something to the receptionist, she can obviously defend herself. If you get involved, it will put you in a position of taking sides in something that doesn't concern you, which can harm the comraderie you have with everyone in the office. You can be loyal to your friend by continuing to be her friend, period.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

Admin positions in the US don't require contracts. Most companies hire on an "at will" basis and don't provide job descriptions, particularly smaller companies. I'd say contracts are reserved for management in large companies (I used to type them up in my company) and consultants.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

Whether he was on vacation or in the office when you requested the time off, he gave you the okay and shouldn't have had a problem with it. It was wrong of him to leave you an irate message while you were gone. However, you should definitely have talked to him about it in person instead of communicating by phone/voicemail. As for the other folks who commented, as long as you didn't leave them in the lurch, it isn't any of their business.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

As a tail-end boomer (born in '64), I disagree with your comment that many of us have a sense of entitlement. Our sense is no greater than the generations before us. It is perhaps true that many gen-Xers feel they deserve eveything without working hard, but boomers do not.

This woman did not threaten her co-workers out of any sense of entitlement, she did it because she's mean. I know people who take anti-depressants and they have never acted this way, whether on or off meds. She's using it as an excuse. She got away with her actions  because most companies are afraid to do anything about employees who cause problems for others for fear of being sued.

Most companies are "at will" companies and can justify letting an employee go with that phrase. However, in this situation, she could claim disability and sue the company. They will just have to keep an eye on her, document everything and take the appropriate steps when, and if, the time comes.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

To your point, dharma's opinion and question was valid. Just because jade didn't like the question doesn't mean it wasn't valid. Jade, and no one else, is "obliged" to post anything on this board, but we all are obliged to be polite and fair. Dharma politely asked a fair question.

I'm sure there are reasons for jade continuing in her job. However, if you're going to vent and expect some support and sympathy, you need to expect some hard questions. Otherwise, you're asking for blind allegiance and faith. As for treating someone like a piece of glass, you're kidding, right? Did you stop to think that maybe dharma might need the same treatment?

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

I've been reading your posts since you first started "venting" about this situation last spring so I guess I qualify as someone who "knows" you. That said, I think your "whatever" comment to dharma is uncalled for.

I asked you the same question in the beginning: If your job is that horrible and you hate it so much, feeling like you're terribly underpaid and driving 55 miles a day to put up with the same crap every day, why are you still there? Your "dream job" has been a nightmare for quite some time, and you've told us more than once that you have your husband's blessing to quit, so what's keeping you from doing that? Venting about the same thing over and over without trying to remedy the situation is like crying wolf. After a while, it gets old.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

I use BLS Limousine Service. They're based in NYC but they contract all over the country. Their rates are pretty reasonable and they're very reliable.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

In this instance, you shouldn't say anything to the boss. It's your co-worker's responsibility to give notice and let everyone know she is leaving. If you say something, there's a very real possibility she will be asked to leave on the spot, and this could cause a lot of trouble for you. Unfortunately, you and the others will have to pick up her slack, but that's the way it goes sometimes. In telling you, she was probably saying, "So what if someone complains about me. I'm going to be gone soon anyway." If she didn't ask you to tell, you shouldn't.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

With all the two-finger typists out there, fast ones, surely there's really no right or wrong way to type any more. When we were in school, we were taught how to type "properly," but everyone ends up doing whatever works best for them. From the time I took typing in junior high school, I've used my left hand for the space bar because it's never felt right using the "correct" hand, even though I'm right-handed. And when it comes to numbers, fugghedaboutit. After many years of typing, my fingers automatically know when they've made a mistake.

The only way to improve your speed is to practice. You can find a page in a book and set a 5-minute timer for yourself. It's very easy to do, and best of all, it's free. Whichever method you try, good luck--you'll get there!

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

The best thing to do is ask him what e-mails he thinks he needs to handle himself and what he thinks should be turned over to you for handling. My boss travels extensively and I have complete access and control over his e-mail and calendar. Everyone knows that whatever they send him will be seen, and perhaps handled, by me. It saves everyone a lot of time because people don't have to call wondering why he hasn't responded to them. There are some e-mails he never sees because he doesn't need to. If I can take care of it, I do. Talk to him; he'll appreciate the initiative.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

Well, Jackie, we agree to disagree. My boss travels far too much for either one of us to be worried about his signature. I have it scanned into my computer and we use that when we can. If it's anything that comes from our legal department, it waits until he returns. But the nature of our business sometimes requires a real ink (not stamped) signature, not one with a "pp", and that's what we do. And there's certainly no need for you to apologize for disagreeing with me. You are entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. However, you may apologize for YELLING AT ME. Accepted.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

If the letters you're sending were making promises or discussing money, then I'd be more concerned. But for heaven's sake, it's not as serious as all that. Forgery is usually what people do for their own gain, such as checks, wills, letters of  introduction or reference, credit applications, etc. (and before you say anything, yes I know the dictionary definition of the word). However, if your boss has previously given you his permission to sign these letters and you're not gaining anything from it, I don't think you need to worry about going to jail. Is he later going to say your company is not introducing a new program to your suppliers or that the suppliers should not have received the letter? If you're really that concerned about it, have him put in writing that he gives permission for you to sign CERTAIN letters on his behalf with or without the pp. If you're still uncomfortable, then sign his name with your initials after it. The letter shouldn't be signed with your name if it's not from you.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

Obviously this job is causing you a lot of stress and it just ain't worth it ($16K a year!!). And if she flips out when you quit, so be it. She'll get over it. Besides, if you guys are that close, she should understand your need to do more and make more money, something she obviously can't help you with in your current position. If you feel this terrible about being there, friends aside, you need to leave. Nothing is going to change, and your boss is going to continue to monitor you because for some reason, she now doesn't trust you to do the job you were hired to do. Therefore, she isn't the person you should be working for. If you want to be close friends again, which you have to accept may never happen, you won't be able to do it while you're still there. Too much resentment has built up and will only get worse if you stay. If I were in your situation, I would do whatever I could to find another job, even if it meant temping for a while. That can lead to permanent work if you're good, and you definitely are. Keep telling yourself you deserve better and you'll get it. Good luck!

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle

I agree with countrigal. He's only asking you to sign an affidavit stating you saw him fall, which you did. If it goes any further, you are within your rights to amend said affidavit before signing it. If you are uncomfortable with the whole thing, just tell him you'd rather not get involved. And your supervisor is only thinking about the company, not your discomfort. I've seen this situation more than once, including one where the supervisor was the one asked to sign the document and he lied about the incident to make himself look better to the company. Not saying your supervisor would lie, just that she would most likely prefer you not get involved for reasons other than your discomfort.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle