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What do you do when your boss get's mad because you left your desk for a few minutes to do something like make a copy, escort a visitor to a conference room, etc.

 

Today I was helping out maintenance guy and then chatting with a co-worker about a meeting he missed and filling him in on the details.

 

Our receptionist who reports to me was making a scan and then walked a visitor to one of the conference rooms for an interview.

 

My boss called my cell phone asking me where I was. I told him I was right out front and came in 10 seconds later. He snapped at me and said he couldn't find any admin staff to help him and that I need to make sure either I am at my desk or our receptionist is at her desk.

 

I told him our receptionist was walking an interview to a conference room and that I was helping out handyman. I told him we try very hard to stay at our desks but sometimes have to do "errands". He said that if it's this hard maybe we could use more help.

 

What should we do?

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Trialbyfire

Besides the case of irritable man syndrome....let's look at how this can be handled, productively!

 

Is it possible to relocate the scanner, to the receptionist's desk? Also, if someone comes to the reception and she can't get ahold of you, is it possible for whomever's visitor this is, to walk the visitor him/herself to the appropriate room?

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In this economy, your boss is probably "feeling the pressure" a little more than usual... like everybody else. If I were you, I would take the soft-pedal approach, be extra-attentive to him for the next few days, maybe offer to take on more work, or if you see something you can take off his back, offer to handle it for him.

 

I also wouldn't get defensive about it. It doesn't sound like you're in trouble. Just try to be more cognizant of when you and the other receptionist leave your desks - i.e., let each other know where you're going and when you'll be back, and try to make sure at least one of you is there before you step away.

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Tony, ha! No he is the CEO of our small company so we kind of need him :).

 

Trial, the scanner is part of an all in one copier printer machine that weighs about 400 pounds, so it has to stay in the "copy/supply room". I did send an e-mail to our recruiters that we need them to come to the front and to escort their interviews from now on...they understood.

 

Open, I didn't get defensive about it and told him we already do our best to cover the reception area, but when someone has to :stock the kitchens and supplies several times a day, escort visitors, make copies/scans, pass out mail, got to the restroom, clean and straighten up the conference rooms (5) after every meeting, etc. Then it means a lot of interuptions for me (to go up front for 5 min.), and I am really busy with my own things to do. I mean it sucks being interuppted in the middle of a project/e-mail/phone call/booking travel/etc.

 

It seems like he is having a bad day, but that shouln't be taken out on me. If anyone should know to keep your emotions in check at the office, it should be the boss.

 

The other day he was in the middle of a letter and I went to give him his mail (a newspaper) and I put it on the table in his office because he was busy and his inbox is on the otherside of him (which means I would have to reach over him to put it there). So I left the newspaper on his table and he snapped and told me I needed to either put it in his hands or in his inbox and not to clutter up his table.

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BoredPerson
What do you do when your boss get's mad because you left your desk for a few minutes to do something like make a copy, escort a visitor to a conference room, etc.

 

Today I was helping out maintenance guy and then chatting with a co-worker about a meeting he missed and filling him in on the details.

 

Our receptionist who reports to me was making a scan and then walked a visitor to one of the conference rooms for an interview.

 

My boss called my cell phone asking me where I was. I told him I was right out front and came in 10 seconds later. He snapped at me and said he couldn't find any admin staff to help him and that I need to make sure either I am at my desk or our receptionist is at her desk.

 

I told him our receptionist was walking an interview to a conference room and that I was helping out handyman. I told him we try very hard to stay at our desks but sometimes have to do "errands". He said that if it's this hard maybe we could use more help.

 

What should we do?

 

In my office admins are not paid servants that wear business clothes.

 

They handle the administrative side of the business involving mostly finance and maitenance issues.

 

Everyone books their own meetings... gets their own coffee... ect, ect ect.

 

But that is corporate America for you.. your boss is not a very nice person.

 

What you should do in future is just apologise to him and try to find a better job that will make use of your skills are intelligence. As an admin you are still better off than most people.

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BoredPerson

 

The other day he was in the middle of a letter and I went to give him his mail (a newspaper) and I put it on the table in his office because he was busy and his inbox is on the otherside of him (which means I would have to reach over him to put it there). So I left the newspaper on his table and he snapped and told me I needed to either put it in his hands or in his inbox and not to clutter up his table.

 

It sounds like you are the bosses play thing and a servant. What you need to do is act like you are working at a restaurant or in retail and he is your guest. Apologise and ignore everything mean that he does.... especially when it is not your fault.

 

And never try to get anyone fired it is bad form and people will remeber what you did. Remember that everyone has friends, and everyone has friends in places you don't know and in places they don't know.

 

Unfortunately.. that is corporate America. What is right and fair and what is good for hard working people is not a consideration. Only those at the top get to bully those at the bottom all you can do is hang your head and it make it easier for yourself and treat those below you as you would want to be treated while you fight to get to the top...

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I always just apologize because they never like hearing "reasoning" all it sounds like to them is an excuse. It's hard when you get yelled at for doing your job, but not being able to be in more then one place at a time (or a mind reader, which I was told I need to be - I need to be able to anticipate his needs and the office needs). I still have to be thankful that I have a job and it's really not that bad...

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What do you do when your boss get's mad because you left your desk for a few minutes to do something like make a copy, escort a visitor to a conference room, etc.

 

Today I was helping out maintenance guy and then chatting with a co-worker about a meeting he missed and filling him in on the details.

 

Our receptionist who reports to me was making a scan and then walked a visitor to one of the conference rooms for an interview.

 

My boss called my cell phone asking me where I was. I told him I was right out front and came in 10 seconds later. He snapped at me and said he couldn't find any admin staff to help him and that I need to make sure either I am at my desk or our receptionist is at her desk.

 

I told him our receptionist was walking an interview to a conference room and that I was helping out handyman. I told him we try very hard to stay at our desks but sometimes have to do "errands". He said that if it's this hard maybe we could use more help.

 

What should we do?

 

He sounds like an ass. Or a huge stressbag. I wouldn't worry too much about it. You were both working, so you weren't in the wrong. You both have jobs that need tending to.

 

If you must put up with someone like this, and if he's this bitchy all the time, then you and your secretary will have to communicate a little more about your tasks so someone is there when he needs support.

 

That is ridiculous if you as me. Our secretary always lets me know if she's leaving her desk so i can grab the phone if it rings. NO one ever gets mad about crap like that though.

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Well, you know your boss best but...

 

Consider ignoring it.

 

Sometimes I say things like that when I'm frustrated and the people I work with know to ignore me and its over with.

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BoredPerson
I always just apologize because they never like hearing "reasoning" all it sounds like to them is an excuse. It's hard when you get yelled at for doing your job, but not being able to be in more then one place at a time (or a mind reader, which I was told I need to be - I need to be able to anticipate his needs and the office needs). I still have to be thankful that I have a job and it's really not that bad...

 

Anticipate the offices needs ? Those Americans are a crazy bunch... If I were you'd I walk into work wearing a firemans outfit and tell you boss that you anticipate there will be a fire on his desk.

 

'Anticipate the offices needs' honey, if you can, get another job, and a different line of work. How degrading is that anyway ? 'Anticipate the offices needs' LOL show up in a stripper out fit ' I, I, I thought boys would like it".

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Funny thing is, this is my nice boss. I mean generally he is very nice. My other boss, he will shut the door in your face and it's almost impossible to get two minutes to talk to him...

 

Haha BP, I thought it was weird. He has put it on my review, twice! Oh and try to stay later to get more done, because people who stay late are "superstars" anyone who get's their work done during their work hours is a slacker. Funny thing is, I get things done really fast...

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MissConduct

This means it's a good time to suggest to your boss to get you a Blackberry, he can pin you whenever he needs you and you can "drop what you are doing" to go see what the needy bugger wants.

 

Win/win ;)

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BoredPerson
Funny thing is, this is my nice boss. I mean generally he is very nice. My other boss, he will shut the door in your face and it's almost impossible to get two minutes to talk to him...

 

Haha BP, I thought it was weird. He has put it on my review, twice! Oh and try to stay later to get more done, because people who stay late are "superstars" anyone who get's their work done during their work hours is a slacker. Funny thing is, I get things done really fast...

 

A boss is never nice. Don't waste your time with this PA ****. Get out while you are still young.

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Sounds to me like you were socializing with your colleague while your boss was frantically trying to get ahold of some office support staff for something?

 

Your job as an executive assistant is to assist, to anticipate his needs, to make your boss' work easier, not more difficult.

 

And people wonder why others get promoted ahead of them...?

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