samiller
Newbie
Posts: 10
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« on: June 01, 2006, 03:37:28 pm » |
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I was just reading something about whether it is ok for Admin Professionals to do personal things (make personal travel arrangements, send out personal mail, copy/print personal documents, run personal errands, etc.) for their boss. I have to do some of these things for my boss and sometimes it makes me feel like a slave and unappreciated. How do the rest of you feel, is this acceptable?
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jak0215
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« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2006, 04:06:18 pm » |
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I believe that we have had this discussion before (you can do a quick search to find it if you want to) and the out come seemed to be that it really depends upon your relationship with your boss. I do personal things for my boss, not because I have to but because I want to. It truly doesn't bother me to pick up lunch for her when I am getting mine. She will buy me Weight Watcher snacks when she orders for herself. We do small things for each other every day. Neither one of us expects if from the other and truly are thankful when it happens. In my opinion, the most important thing in every kind of relationship, whether it's personal or professional, is respect. It goes both ways and when it's missing there's a problem. If doing these things truly bothers you, then it may be best if you have a discussion with your boss to help you both set boundaries of what is acceptable and what is not. He/She may not even realize this bothers you. Good luck.
jak
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misslynn
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« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2006, 02:22:31 am » |
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I agree with Jak, assisting with personal arrangements should be about respect and not an obligation. My boss almost never has me do personal things for him, not even the cliche morning cup of coffee. But if I'm going out for lunch, I'll offer to bring him back something, if I'm in line at Starbucks I'll see if he wants something. I remind him about things like his wife's birthday and their anniversary but he takes care of arrangements himself. I put his favorite football team's schedule on his calendar, which just made him laugh.
I don't know how long you have worked with your boss, I can see where it would be a difficult conversation but a valuable one nonetheless.
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msmarieh
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« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2006, 03:32:08 pm » |
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There are so many factors that go into this decision.
I do personal things for my boss all the time. It is literally part of the job description, with the full blessing of the company. I find it makes an enormous difference what level executive the boss is. In my case, he is the Chairman Emeritus and that brings certain privileges with it. I doubt very much that a front line supervisor or office manager would be afforded the same opportunity for this.
Another factor as well is the number of people supported. When I was supporting 38 engineers in a job long ago, there's NO WAY I could have provided that level of support. There weren't enough hours in the day.
As long as it has the blessing of the company, I have no problem with it. Otherwise, it is on a case by case basis. I certainly have never minded picking up lunch for a boss that was working through (and usually they would buy my lunch if I did that).
It depends on the nature of the request, how much I like the boss, how much time it will take, how often the boss makes these requests, etc.
Marie
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dettu
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« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2006, 03:08:53 pm » |
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What really burns my toast is being asked to do personal things for someone else's boss, like the time my co-worker's boss left her planner in her husband's car elsewhere in the city and they sent ME to go get it because co-worker was too busy...but for my own group, if they ask for something personal, I don't mind. They rarely ask. I like my people very much and am glad to do whatever I can for them.
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