Hello,

I'm hoping you can help me out with some solid advice on how to deal with this situation.

The Quarterly Business Reviews are coming up. The 3 directors in the company (1 of which is my boss) have started handing down to the 3 Assistants (1 of which is me) the travel plans. None of us work in the same location. I'm in California, my boss is in Texas. I had really hoped I would be invited to this, but I'm not.

I called up the other 2 Assistants to see if they had been invited - and they are!! I don't know how to handle this. My boss is a difficult man - very rude, know it all, likes to humiliate people in the most public ways possible... not a nice guy. He is a jerk to most everyone, but I have always gotten the distinct impression he doesn't like me. I wasn't invited to our Regional Mtg last month either (I don't know if the other Assistants were or not).

What is my course of action? A friend of mine says I should sue for discrimination??? Any advice would be great!

Thanks,
Michele

[Robin Holtson]

Hi Michele,
On what basis would you file a discrimation case? I'm not reading anything in your email that would fall under discrimination. Outside of the Regional Mtg and Quarterly Review do you arrange his travel?

[LisaOlsen]

A colleague of mine gave me some wonderful counsel once: You get 100% of what you don't ask for.

My question is, did you express interest to your boss that you would be interested in attending the review?

I wouldn't suggest having any further conversation with the other two assistants. Focus on your job and how you can build your partnership with your boss. Since he is in Texas, it's important to find ways to "meet" with him regularly so you are communicating. (Skype, video conference, etc.) Your goal is to make yourself valuable to him, so he wants you in attendance. without more info, I'm hesitant to make assumptions as to why the other 2 assistants would go.

In the future, don't wait to find out if other assistants are going or to be invited. If you think it would be beneficial to attend, speak up! Use diplomacy and express your reasons for wanting to attend. If the boss still says no, respect his reasons and keep working hard.