Admin. running personal errands

I have been with a company for about 4 months now. I was hired as an Admin. Assistant, my 'official title' to those outside the company ranges from "Project Manager" to "Admin chic". During the interview, I was asked if I would mind running errands such as getting lunch for the small number of employees and getting the drinks we keep in the office. I didn't mind and said so. However, since I have started work, I have taken the boss's car to the car wash many times, suits to the dry cleaner, trips to the bank to pay his house payment, spent hours on the phone tracking down information for his home remodeling project, multiple trips to pick up lunch for his wife that drops by the office after having already gone out to get lunch for everyone in the office, canceled home phone service, greeting card accounts, and made multiple calls to charities around town looking for someone to accept appliances that would also pickup. Let me clarify a few things: I don't mind running the errands for the office, getting lunch for the small number of people that work in the office so that they may continue to work uninterrupted and getting supplies, such as sodas and snacks, to keep the caffeine levels high. The things that I don't enjoy are the personal errands that have nothing to do with a functioning Office. I spend about 85% of my time paying his personal bills, and getting his car clean (in addition i am not at all comfortable driving someone else's car). I was hired as an Administrative Assistant and was under the impression that I would be handling office responsibilities. I am also aware that occasionally I probably be asked to handle things not related to the office however, the frequency of personal errands I run it starting to make me wonder what I was really hired for. Am I off base here? Should I just adjust me outlook and cope, or am I being taken advantage of? You insight is appreciated.

O Please mind the spelling/grammar errors. In my frustration and hurry to get a response I neglected to check.

Here are a few suggestions...instead of running the errands yourself, why not ask the people who perform the services -- dry cleaning, car washing, delivering the food, keeping in contact with the contractor who is remodeling the house, getting the vehicles detailed, office supply delivery store -- if they can deliver these items at the offices. Most companies who perform these services will...make life easy for yourself. I have been an admin for over 18 years -- trust me, there is always a shortcut to sometimes -- to allow yourself to have more time.

Is any of this getting in the way of you accomplishing your primary functions in your specific job? Are you falling behind, feeling resentment or just plain fed up and need a way to say so? I strongly urge you to take it one step further and investigate to see what the true cost is in providing concierge or personal services outside of your job description. Yes, it is true, vendors will accomodate the requests at an additional cost. Prepare a job cost analysis. Show how the investment (extra money in enlisting these vendors vs. your time paid and that of all fellow employees is balanced in the true cost of you getting that lunch for everyone. If you are using your free time to support these tasks you need to find a way to recoup for that as well. Start with tracking your mileage and time spent on the errands. Use this to open communications on this topic in language most managers understand. Time and money. If it is starting to interfere with your job performance, whether you mind it or not, and it sounds as if it is, you have to make an internal honest assessment and a decision on just how far YOU will go. This may just be the thing you need to show him the true value of the concierge services you provide, "at no additional cost" simply because he feels free to use you as his personal conceirge. I also urge you to extracate yourself out of his home remodeling project, unless he is willing to compensate you for project management. A secretary/or admin is not a dumping ground for all matters private and out of the scope of your professional relationship. "At Will employment" does not mean it is an excuse for your boss to impose his personal matters into your employer/employee relationship". It all depends on how much you want to take on and how far you beleive this will take you in your career path. I have had an admin job description which included cleaning the office toilet, but it did not get me anywhere professionally. It was so the boss would not have to do it.

Show some respect for yourself and start looking. You deserve to be treated right and if you're not the level of treatment you're seeking it's time to pass that job onto someone else that enjoys driving the boss's car to the car-wash :-)

Are you happy as an admin? Deep inside do you feel you have more potential? There are plenty of opportunities where you'll do less and make more.

I've coached hundreds of admins moving from their current position by just asking themselves if they feel worthy enough to start climbing up the ladder. Once we resolve the issue of worthiness, their income doubles. They start getting new positions, doing almost the same thing but with better titles/salaries. The corporate enviornment tends to show respect based on your pay grade - it's unfortunate but that's the way it is. You can either accept it or no longer stand for not living your life to it's full potential.

You can search some of my other blog contents for how admins can move to the next level. I'm also available to answer any questions you might have.

Good luck to you

Paul Anderson (Performance Coach)
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I have an errand running service. I charge $25/hour to do those duties that you are referring to.

For Seniors 55 and over, I charge $15/hour.

Please refer him to me, if he needs someone to handle these responsibilities.

My phone 678-485-7907.

I wrote an article on my blog called "Will that be one sugar or two?" and in it I talk about things like this.

Here is the link if you would like to read it:
secretaryhelpline.blogspot.com/2008/04/will-that-be-one-sugar-or-two.html

I think it all depends on what you signed up for and if you are happy in the position otherwise.

Patricia
secretaryhelpline.blogspot.com/

It's very simple. If you want to work, and nothing else is available, run the errands!
You're still getting paid right?
If you want a 'dream job' keep looking for something else.
In the meantime, run errands or sit home without a paycheck.
Times are tough!

Sharon MIng is absolutely 100% correct. If you don't want the job, refer him to her, and he'll let you go.
Very simple stuff here...

You are certainly taken advantage of. Speak with your Boss to get things to a minumum.