Colleagues who don't acknowledge you

[bristolmary]

Hi all

Hope we're all ready for Xmas!

I wondered how you would deal with this:

I work for the CEO of a Charity and most people will come directly to me to ask questions about his diary and advice on his time and he tends to leave it up to me to decide about timings etc as he knows that I can do it and won't put him under tight timings unless they're all internal meetings in the same building.

We've got a new Head of comms who is really keen to get the CEO's profile out there a bit more and he keeps suggesting things to the CEO and asking him about speaking events and does he have time to do this and that but he never copies me in and never contacts me about availabiltiy but instead goes straight to the CEO almost as if I don't exist!

How have you all dealt with this in the past and if so how did you deal with it. I've tried replying to an email he sent to the CEO responding to his questions and said it's quicker if you copy me in if you want a quick response but that doesn't seem to have worked.

Thanks all
Mary

[Jackie G]

If the comms guy doesn't respond to you, and your boss leaves it to you for diary stuff, he should redirect the comms guy to you.  If it comes from him, the comms guy will gradually realise, as everyone does eventually, that the real power is in the PA's office, not the boss's!

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org

[peaches2160]

I agree.  In the beginning, I had a few that would bypass me and send requests straight to my boss, or walk in and pass me and walk right into his office.  Even had one who would just walk in and interrupt when my boss and I were meeting.  It did not last long.  My boss talked to them or deferred them to me.  On occassion he will still defer to me for his scheduling.  However, most have received the message and now just come straight to me.  

[msmarieh]

Since he is new, give him the benefit of the doubt. Send him a nicely worded note to the effect of "Being new, you may not realize it, but CEO has me schedule all appointments on his calendar, including speaking engagements. Please check with me first so I can verify availability before speaking with him." Copy the CEO with the email.

Marie

[gee4]

I always think it's difficult for a PA as a new employee to learn processes and procedures.  However being that PA, it should be easier to explain it to others.

I agree, speak to the individual and explain that your boss prefers all appointments to be scheduled through you.

For whatever reason, people tend to ignore or disregard emails.  It's much more effective if you speak f2f.  Although the suggestion by Marie of cc'ing your CEO may add some weight.

[gee4]

I know we briefly touched on this subject before as regards a superior but in this instance I am talking about co-workers and I just can't figure it out.

My dept has 300 people and is split into 4 sections with a chief engineer and a secretary for each section.  I realised very quickly that this place was clicky and at first I ignored it and felt it didn't really affect me as I was new and some of these people had worked together for a long time.

However, is there any excuse for completing ignoring someone?

I am ingnored by various people in my department who choose to ask another secretary for help or info.  That same secretary has blanked me for the past couple of days and doesn't even make eye contact for me to say good morning although I say a general good morning when I come in to my desk.

I feel that new starts need to be made to feel welcome but how can you start the day off properly without acknowledging those who sit nearby?

I am so sick of having this kind of atmosphere in a place where I spend at least 8 hours a day but I have to say the men are fine, it's the women who are the worst.

I also feel a lot of the other secretaries are unhelpful and when I ask for help or advice they sound as if I should know the answer or that I am pestering them.

I just wonder why on earth anyone would think I want to stay here with all this going on?  It's like being in a school playground.

[peaches2160]

It is like a school playground and very unproductive.  

[happyclappy]

I would approach my boss about this if this happened to me and mention it to him.  Just see what he says and act accordingly.   It may be that your boss needs to give your senior colleague that specific message: my assistant is the one to contact about my diary.  

In my last job, I managed every detail of my boss's day, but in my new job Bossie does own diary arrangements, which is fine by me as I have access to the diary anyway.  It just saves me having to put things in.  One less task to do!  

[gee4]

Happy re my situation, I am referring to co-workers mostly.

Being in a temp role I don't have much authority to do or say anything.  I think that's why sometimes temps are treated a little bit different.  It's rather intimidating to say the least and quite unprofessional.

Not sure if my contract was permanent I would be treated any differently, but it's sad that people have to act this way.

[happyclappy]

Mary,

I would certainly approach your boss.  You've nothing to lose and probably doesn't know about this person's attitude.

Best of luck.

Lucy

[gee4]

Ha, talk about being ignored, it was me who reposted the topic!