AdminSecret

I hate that, for some (maybe most) of us, our job description includes some form of "& other sundry tasks."

Ok, I realize that being an admin, my job scope is broad. But it can't be unlimited.

The final straw: When our company started implementing budget cuts last spring, the facilities manager sent out an email stating that admins would be emptying the garbage cans in the conference rooms! I didn't even see the email, when I had three other admins at my desk complaining about it. I called the guy, and he hadn't even bothered to clear this with managers (or me, being the head admin). So I took the complaint to the managers and said that if they were cutting on janitorial services, fine, but don't expect admins to pick up the slack or we'd expect a pay raise to cover our new duties. We compromised by taking the garbage cans out of the conference rooms. Several people protested, but I sent an email stating that if they wanted them, I'd make up a schedule wherein EVERY person in the building had to empty the garbage cans once a month. No more complaints - no more garbage cans.

We have a legal administrator that is not to be trusted.  She is demeening, unprofessional (she is J.D.), and a liar.  She holds her position as one that is not to be questioned.  All the staff realizes that when we have a conversation with her we are better off having someone else present as she tends to lie about her one-on-one conversations with us.  The words she uses with us are different when she is alone as opposed to when someone else is present.  She may be smart on paper but she definitely needs some personnel skills.  We are the guinea pigs as this is her first legal administrative job.  We thought the others were bad but this one is one to watch.  Her managerial skills are horrible when it comes to taking care of work spaces and day-to-day duties with staff.  She reminds me of someone who dresses and smells nice once they walk out of their apartment for everyone to see but their apartment is a pigsty.  If you read this (J.D.), I'm sure you'll recognize yourself because you have no problem showing the staff the ugly, mean and cruel side of you.  Hell is waiting!!

I hate it when my boss doesn't stick up for me or he sides with someone else over me!  I hate gettting coffee.  If I wanted to be a waitress,  I would have chose to work in a restaurant!

I was hired for a specific position through a temporary agency, because I had become weary of office politics. Well, the "temp" company loved my work and hired me to fill a position that another executive assistant had walked out on. Yup, office politics; but, I couldn't resist the boosted 50% added salary, incredible benefits and a permanent position (my husband was out of work). 

My predecessor had spoken with executive management numerous times to hire 3 more admin. assistants to help with her work load and they refused, so she walked out. I went ahead and accepted her position, along with the agreement that 3 more assistants would be hired. They never hired anyone, then demoted me publicly in a 50 person meeting, saying I wasn't handling deadlines well, and that they were bringing in another gal from corporate to "clean up the mess." This gal had been with the company for a couple of years and I had been there 2 months. After they demoted me and brought her in, they brought in THREE more admins. They moved me to a tiny dark closet sized room, away from my big window, and I made sure that everyone I saw and spoke to thought I was happy with the decision. Actually, there was less work and I still had my big salary. They were just trying to make it so hard on me that I would walk out...which I didn't! :)

Well guess what the end of the story is... the top admin/office manager (my old position) and her 3 helpers couldn't handle the workload that I had been handling about 90% of. They finally fired me, because I wouldn't budge and the whole company collapsed about 4 weeks later. This was a construction management firm that had a billion dollar contract with a municipality and they lost that contract!

Of course it wasn't all about me...but that's the way they did things. Amazing.

I believe that, when dealing with non-admins, that there's a certain amount of "expected intentional inefficiency" in people's own jobs so that they can say that they see items A, B, C, etc. that they're working on improving when it's really the administrative professional who's doing all the legwork.

 My biggest complaint is constantly being expected to organize family vacations (there are 5 of them) and other personal trips.  I'm expected to book the flights, checking them all in if they are flying Southwest, find a rental car, etc. etc. etc.  I recently had to find a flight for their dog to fly home with them at Thanksgiving.

I work for two high level executives and only one places these demands on my time and then can't understand why I haven't been able to get to some of my other "work" duties.

I'm ready to scream!!!

There are so many things I hate.

1.  Having the boss think that just because the word assistant in my job title means I'm her flunkie

2.  being told this is not a democracy - if i'm told to do something - jsut freakin do it!

3.  shouting my name from down the hall - hey - what did we decide to do about X, Y&Z....   Where is the .....   Who called??

4.  Just because we work together doesn't mean we're BFF's

5.  If I have my radio on in my office and you like the song - don't come in my office and tell me to turn it up - just cuz that's your song!

6.  If you're off site - working from home - please don't call me every 15 minutes asking me what's going on - don't IM me either!

The worst things have been covered here already, such as bosses implementing changes that are NOT efficient but not considering the input of those that DO the jobs and not being thanked for the things you do that the boss very clearly couldn't do him/herself...

But also there's the implied disrespect by EVERYONE inside and outside the organization. 

"Oh, she's an ASSISTANT."

And the dumb chain of command types of things. I've been told NOT to email certain people that I need answers from.  That, to me, is ridiculous.  To have to email the question to the boss and then have her ask this special so-an-so when she doesn't even fully grasp what I'm asking or what I need clarified.  The delay & stress this causes is just idiotic.

And of course, you get pigeon-holed. It's like once your'e an assistant you'll ALWAYS be an assistant.  Nevermind that most assistants who do their jobs well likely know much more about the org, the ppl, the routines, the budget, the upcoming deadlines and even the building than do any of the other employees, but admins are never considered for management or even supervisory positions

If a manager only acknowledges your presence when he or she wants something, this is not a good sign. It means that you are basically invisible to the manager. In this case, the manager will not usually reward an employee for good performance, but will recognize only what the manager believes to be inadequate.

The worst thing about being an Admin (Exec. Assistant) is watching your bosses picture perfect marriage fall apart.  Being witness to affairs and seeing the pain of the Mrs. face at holiday gatherings.  Witnessing the Mirs. trying to reach out, calling every hour on the hour, putting the baby one the line.  While her husband spends late nights starring at the computer screen or away on business trips meeting his lover.