Timeline for Personal assistant; directors and boss keep interrupting my work to ask me to make them tea/coffee
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
19 events
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| Oct 28, 2018 at 4:36 | history | edited | Nobody | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Fix a minor spelling error
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| Oct 24, 2018 at 20:03 | comment | added | Edwin Buck | @motosubatsu Yes, I'm sorry, I did get my wires crossed. It was for the OP, and it's sort of been covered in other comments, so accept my apologies, and I'm deleting it. | |
| Oct 24, 2018 at 16:23 | comment | added | Doktor J | @Tezra which is why I suggested they could frame the question in the manner of "when you get a moment..." -- they get their request in, then it's on OP to (assuming they wish to fulfill the request) make the tea when they're done and hunt down their boss to deliver it. | |
| Oct 24, 2018 at 14:09 | comment | added | motosubatsu♦ | @EdwinBuck erm.. I think you might have intended that for the OP rather than myself! | |
| Oct 24, 2018 at 13:15 | comment | added | Andy | @Time4Tea I don't think its clear; the boss may be giving the benefit of the doubt since the OP was eating, or it could just be the OP related "eating" with "on." At any rate I think its irrelevant. If you're eating at your desk you're opening yourself up to being bothered even on your lunch break. If you don't like that, eat somewhere else. | |
| Oct 24, 2018 at 1:47 | comment | added | Failed Scientist | I think this answer is bit too harsh! | |
| Oct 24, 2018 at 0:55 | comment | added | Time4Tea | @Andy according to the question, the Boss said "I know you're on lunch, but...". So, it sounds like the OP was clearly on their 'lunch break', not just eating at their desk. | |
| Oct 23, 2018 at 23:55 | comment | added | Andy | @Time4Tea Some people work through lunch; how are people supposed to know if you're taking a lunch break or simply eating while continuing to work if you're at your desk? | |
| Oct 23, 2018 at 20:18 | comment | added | Tezra | @DoktorJ The flaw with that argument is if they don't have the time to make the drink themselves, how on earth would they have time to track when you finish your lunch break AND go to you at that time. I understand waiting to fill the request till you finish lunch, but it's easier to pass requests when you cross paths than "whenever it's convenient for everyone". | |
| Oct 23, 2018 at 19:20 | comment | added | Doktor J | It's common courtesy that, if someone is obviously in the middle of eating -- even at their desk -- you wait politely for them to finish their mouthful, then give them the choice e.g. "Would you mind making me some tea when you get a moment?" Lunch time is personal time and they are infringing upon it by asking for tea in the first place. Once they've already crossed that threshold, wording is very important. You're no longer asking them to "do their job", you're asking them to do you a favor. Boss seems completely oblivious to this distinction and needs to be made aware of it. | |
| Oct 23, 2018 at 18:02 | comment | added | BigMadAndy | You can find "rude" whatever you like, but such behavior is normal and can't be changed easily. | |
| Oct 23, 2018 at 17:54 | comment | added | Time4Tea | I agree with @LightnessRacesinOrbit 's comment. I think eating lunch somewhere out of sight might be a good practical way to help address the issue. However, I am of the opinion that if you are obviously on a lunch break, that is supposed to be your time and interrupting you for a tea/coffee is unreasonable. Perhaps consider bringing it up with your Boss in private? | |
| Oct 23, 2018 at 17:54 | comment | added | Lightness Races in Orbit | Asking a question and asking for you to drop everything to make you a cup of tea are very different things. And, FWIW, I always found it rude when people would interrupt me with conversation at my desk, during lunch, while I was literally eating. Sure, it's a bit different than if I'm in the canteen, marginally, but IMO that doesn't really change anything. | |
| Oct 23, 2018 at 17:52 | comment | added | BigMadAndy | @LightnessRacesinOrbit. If I am at my desk, people do approach me with questions. Even if I am eating. I would never see it as them disrespecting me. It's not other people's business when you take your lunch break. Being at the desk means being approachable. You can try explaining and educating that people shouldn't approach you when you're at your desk, but I don't think it is be something you will be able to change. | |
| Oct 23, 2018 at 17:36 | comment | added | Lightness Races in Orbit | I don't agree that the OP should have to hide when eating their lunch in order to avoid being forced to make a cup of tea at a moment's notice when they're literally mid-mouthful. | |
| Oct 23, 2018 at 16:32 | history | edited | BigMadAndy | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
deleted 8 characters in body
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| Oct 23, 2018 at 16:09 | history | edited | BigMadAndy | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added 153 characters in body
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| Oct 23, 2018 at 15:56 | history | edited | BigMadAndy | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added 15 characters in body
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| Oct 23, 2018 at 15:51 | history | answered | BigMadAndy | CC BY-SA 4.0 |