[Chrissy Scivicque]

This question was asked by Emmy Loyd in our focus group:

When hiring an assistant, what errands are considered “okay” to send them on?

[OA Staff Member]

The following answer was submitted by Dawn Williamson:

It depends on what level of assistant we are discussing. If the assistant is at an entry level; my belief is the only errands she should handle are small (office supplies, lunch for meetings etc). If we are discussing C level assistants - that is a different ball game all together. I have been expected to make personal appointment (such as dental/hair) take the car for annual tune ups; replace tires. I have been asked to pick up dry cleaning; meet the lawn people etc….I am not sure if I would classify any of these as “okay” however, they are expected.

[galfriday]

I agree with Dawn Williamson regarding the level of the assistant (and manager/executive too) determining the type of errands they are expected to do, and would add that all types of errands that are expected should be made very clear up front, as early as the interview process. I too work for a C-Level Executive and often find my day filled with scheduling his medical appointments and dealing with his health insurance issues (he had a recent back injury)- and I am completely okay and actually proud to do this. But that's me...I consider myself more of an Executive Assistant /Personal Assistant. Others may not want to venture into the personal lives of their execs, and that's why it's so important to define this upfront. This gives the assistant the ability to say "yes, I'll be okay with office and personal-type errands," or say "Nope, not for me. I'd prefer to stick with only office errands." Both answers are 100% correct and will determine if the job is right for the assistant.

[MollySue]

I had an experience that totally caught me off guard in a past job and eventually lead to my leaving. On a Friday afternoon just after lunch, the owner of the company approached me with his house keys in hand and a rather disgusted look on his face. He explained that his wife just called crying about their really old cat getting sick all over their brand new expensive oriental rug in the dinning room. At first, I didn’t understand why he was telling me this, I knew that he had company coming in from out of town but what did that have to do with me? I soon found out as he pushed his keys in my hand he told me I had to go to his home and clean it. Needless to say I told him he was crazy if he thought I would do that, after all I was only the receptionist.

[Chrissy Scivicque]

MollySue - that is hilarious! Well, I'm sure it wasn't at the time. But now, it's just so crazy. What a loon! I'll never forget the moment I realized I was BOTH a personal assistant and an executive assistant - when I took my boss's sick wife to the doctor. Yep. He had an appointment that couldn't be missed and she wasn't well enough to drive herself. What was I to do? It seems inevitable that, even if you're an executive assistant you end up doing personal tasks too. Because there's just no way to truly, distinctly separate the two parts of anyone's life. They overflow into one another all the time. You just have to determine how far you're willing to go. I had my limits. I would NEVER clean up kitty puke (except for my own beautiful kitties). But small things seemed ok for me because I was helping my boss do his job - he didn't need to spend his time going to the bank or running pointless errands. I could do it (much faster!) and he could get the real work done. And that was my job - to help him get his work done. It wasn't all mindless errands, but to tell you the truth, I kind of enjoyed that part

[sabrinafaire]

I think if you're at that level and presumably getting paid to be at that level, then it's OK. Until then I'm going to be resentful about having to pick up a cake on Thursday. They better not ask me to cut it.

[MollySue]

In truth I do not mind running the “small” errands either, but there are limits and going to my bosses house to clean is one of them.

I have done the running to the grocery store to pick him up some soup, the minute market to get his snickers, he has one every afternoon and the vending machines just happen to be out of them. I have picked up dry cleaning and taken clients to the airport. Haven’t had to do the sick wife thing, but flowers and presents for forgotten birthdays and/or anniversaries and made the call to home about a “late” meeting so don’t hold dinner. I bet the majority of us have even done something for the spouse like make hair appointments or lunch reservations.

There are some perks that go with doing these things… like being out of the office, travel pay and lunch anywhere I choose. So in the end it always seems to even out for me.

[bluemoon8118]

Oh wow - and I thought being a pseudo manager for my bosses' kid's sports team was bad (yes that does include crunching an ungodly amount of baseball and football statistics). Although that makes me want to tear my hair out - I will definitely remember I could be doing much stranger things!

[Patricia]

I was asked to make coffee for the first time in 25 years and almost fell over. Of course I make horrible coffee so it was the first and last time I was asked. I have made hair appointments. Being a former hairdresser I am usually the one recommending they get one...
I have filled out medical benefit forms, called their spouse to say they were going to be late for supper and inspected them before a meeting to make sure they did not have spinach in their teeth or an untucked shirt.
I don't mind the small stuff. It helps me to change gears and do less demanding things. I find it is a break and I'm getting paid for it so why not?

Patricia
http://secretaryhelpline.blogspot.com/

[adebusk]

Hahaha. At my last company, I did everything from get lunch/make coffee to ironing the boss' shirt before a big meeting. His wife worked with us too, an IMPORTANT position of course, so she didn't have time to do it. Cracked me up. But as long as the pay is equal to the tasks, I am up for whatever is thrown at me.