Planning time away from the office can be a headache if you need a temp to fill your shoes. PA Life looks at the pros and pitfalls
It would be interesting to know how many PAs take their full holiday entitlement each year. There never seems to be a good time to be away from the office for more than a few days, and putting holiday cover in place can be daunting. PAs and their bosses build such a rapport that itโs not easy for an outsider to come in and fill the void.
Increasingly, PAs seem to be synchronising their leave with the boss. Executive assistant Kate Wilson finds that she frequently tries to dovetail her holiday with her boss. โThis is particularly important during the summer months, as it helps ensure work doesnโt mount up when Iโm off,โ she says.
When being off at the same time as the boss isnโt feasible it can depend on your managerโs personality, style of working and IT ability as to whether they need someone to fill your shoes in your absence.
Taking the strain
Many PAs will lean on colleagues to pick up the slack while theyโre away. The advantage of this is that the person knows the company, its systems and its protocol. But for PAs at the highest level, who are privy to information that their boss would not want anyone else to see, this might not be an option.
โGetting a temp in can sidestep this issue,โ says recruitment agency Secretaries Plus. The company also points out that shifting PAs through the ranks to cover senior colleagues means companies may only need to cover a junior role, which would cost less. However, it may be the case that placing an outsider in the hot seat means that everyone is more comfortable with the information exchange.
Getting up to speed
PAs may also be put off hiring a temp by the idea of having to spend time briefing him or her on the demands of the role. PA Sophie Wrigglesworth believes hiring a temp is unnecessary for anything up to two weeksโ leave. โGetting a temp can mean 10 times more work, especially if they have no understanding of the company,โ she says.
But Secretaries Plus counters that with the right candidate, a handover should be about imparting vital knowledge around the boss and their current projects. โItโs not about teaching someone to be a PA. Hiring a senior EA to cover is not cheap, but if it were, there would be something wrong. If you look at it like a pyramid, there are very few PAs at the top level, and even fewer at the level who are out of work and temping.โ
Planning ahead
Itโs vital to get organised. โIf you know in May that you are going to be off in June and September, let an agency know so it can try and make the same person available,โ says Secretaries Plus. โIf it can send the someone who already knows the company, it will.โ
Whatever solution is found to cover holiday leave, itโs important to be able to switch off. โBeing a PA is a demanding role,โ says Sophie Wrigglesworth. โI realised I need the time away so that I can come back rested and ready to throw myself into my role again.โ
