Bosses bother assistants

If you’ve ever found yourself carrying out personal errands for your boss – picking up his or her dry cleaning, paying bills, or running out of the office to buy their partner’s birthday present – take heart in knowing you’re not alone. A US study shows that 23% of PAs across the pond are regularly asked to take care of non-work-related tasks.

Requests highlighted in the survey range from fetching lunches and hot drinks to lending the boss money and grooming his or her dog. Others claim to have been asked to move their manager’s car to avoid parking fines, clip coupons from the local newspaper and clean up after their colleagues.

According to employment market analyst at HR specialist Randstad, Steve Shepherd, there are multiple reasons for managers taking advantage of employees. “Some bosses use their position of power to get those supporting them to run errands that fall outside their responsibilities,” he says.

Steve points out that determining whether a request crosses the line isn’t always easy and the fact that it may not be part of their job description doesn’t mean employees shouldn’t do it. The appropriateness of a task may also depend on the individual’s role. “PAs and EAs are asked to run personal errands for their managers on a regular basis,” he comments.

When it comes to dealing with this situation, Steve advises those who are uncomfortable to voice their concerns, especially if it impacts their ability to perform at work. If the requests keep happening, it’s time to raise the issue with a superior in order to give the company another chance at fixing the problem.

As a last resort, Steve admits that sometimes finding a new job is the only solution. “If it’s having a negative impact on your day-to-day mentality, you’re better off moving on.”

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