I don’t get office assistants

I don’t get the concept of office assistants.

We have one in my new office. She gets our mail, decorates the office, organizes office lunches, organizes charity drives, manages the managers’ Outlook calendars, and keeps track of our sick/vacation days. It is the most awkward relationship I have ever had with a coworker. Why? Because it’s like she does our trivial chores that we could totally be doing ourselves, but our hands are tied because it is her JOB to do these things and you have the pressure to stay on her good side so she doesn’t screw you over out of spite.

Let’s review:

• Get our mail: the mailroom is supposed to have an employee whose sole job is to deliver mail to offices. We each have a mailbox, and we should be able to just pick up our mail there. Awkward when: I don’t have a mailbox yet! Do I ask her for one even though I’ve gotten no mail yet? Also, she hand-delivers my commuter train pass by hand (as opposed to getting it in the mail at home); what if she didn’t come in that day? What if she forgets to give it to me? That’s what happened the first week with my paycheck before direct deposit kicked in: she forgot to get my check even after I had reminded her, so I didn’t get paid until the week after when I finally went to pick it up at the employee office myself.
• Decorate the office: in my last office Facilities was the team who decorated it. Nice to have, but do you really need to hire a person for this purpose?
• Organize office lunches: the director’s executive assistant usually does this, which in this case is the same person. Normally an exec admin is too busy to do the rest of the crap, but this is normally under their duties.
• Organize charity drives: Normally this responsibility is passed around among the team members so everyone contributes to a cause that is dear to them, or the diversity groups take care of the charitable work. Awkward when: you contribute and she manages to conveniently forget your name in the department email that says the list of people who donated, or when there are 3 donation drives in a single week and you are given the stare for only contributing to one. So much pressure!!!
• Manages the managers’ calendars: really? I understand managing the executive’s calendars (they are in high demand and their time requires more gatekeeping), but the managers’??? I can’t set up a meeting with my manager without her finding out about it first. She also manages the conference rooms, which is completely unnecessary since these are in Outlook and we could schedule them ourselves. Awkward when: I want to book a room and I have to go ask her to find one, and she gets side tracked and I keep having to remind her to book it.
• Keeping track of our sick/vacation days: why can’t we do this online like normal people? Do I really have to tell her every time I’m going to be out? Awkward when: all the time! It shouldn’t be any of her business if I am sick or take time off! That should be between my manager and me.
• One more: Location Location Location: they strategically sit as you walk into the office so you always have to say hi and be nice. But why are you being nice? Because you have to! You want this woman to give you your train pass every month and to give you stapler refills! It’s more awkward and forced a relationship than even the one you have with your boss!

I HATE THE PRESSURE TO BE NICE! Make it go away!!!!

abi

Photo Credit: http://www.clipartguide.com/_pages/0511-0810-2000-1425.html