does your boss makes you do his/her personal stuffs/errands?
By secretbear
@secretbear (19448)
Philippines
December 12, 2007 4:08am CST
We just wrapped tons of Christmas gift this afternoon and its all my boss's! she arrived this morning followed by her driver carrying a lot of shopping bags and before she went for a meeting, she told us to wrap all those gifts up. we didn't complain because it seldom happens that our boss ask us to do her personal errands and we all enjoyed the gift wrapping and we even suspect that some of the gifts are for us. LOL
however, i know some people who are abusive of their authority and make their subordinates do their personal errands everytime! for example, grocery shopping, going to the bank to deposit money, mailing personal letters, even handling calls from credit card companies that they are hiding from (kinda make us liars). some even made their subordinates almost their personal assistant.
anyway, so what about you people? do you do your boss's personal errands?
7 people like this
25 responses
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
12 Dec 07
I used to run errands in the beginning, but that was olny to climb the corperate ladder as fast as I could, I had a family to support. Anyways that was 10 years ago or more and now I am the boss and get other to do the same for me.
3 people like this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
I think that was a very good perspective, looking at everything you do as part of your way in going up. good attitude. but I hope you aren't that kind of boss that abuses his power. ^__^
@angelface23 (2494)
• United States
12 Dec 07
My boss has me do some personal stuff for her but it's just like taking her mail down to the mailbox and like the other day when I went to lunch she had me get her a book of stamps. It's nothing too outrageous and I don't mind because we are actually friends and she helps me out a lot.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
good for you. I think there's nothing wrong with that and that's an easy task. it only gets bad if the boss gets abusive of his/her authority. ^__^
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
12 Dec 07
That so reminds me of that film Devil Wears Prada! I think it's a damn cheek! and I thought slavery had been abolished. Cheeky (insert expletives here) but what can you do? You can hardly say NO or do it yourself you lazy c*w! They people act like they are gods and expect you to carry out their every wish, with a curtsey or bow! When you'd rather stick two fingers up! Thankfully I have never been in that situation, although I have made cups of tea and coffee for my boss etc, but that's no sweat but I draw the line at shopping for them!
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
LOL I don't think slavery have been abolished. it still exists everywhere! mostly in factories where laborers don't get enough compensation for their work, and also in the household where household helpers are abused.
anyway, yes, what can we do?? we're just their subordinates. and we should follow the rule "obey first before you complain" as long as the task is not impossibly unreasonable. ^__^;;
we also make coffees and teas, serve food and snacks but that's normal and somehow official since the boss got a lot of things in his/her hands, so busy that he/she can't take care of her meals. ^__^
@GourdBreaker (490)
• Philippines
12 Dec 07
not me, but one of those account executives in the office. our boss even asked him to take his wife's car to the mechanic. duh.
@glitzypurple (1477)
• Philippines
12 Dec 07
Yes sometimes, I and my officemates were also asked to wrap christmas presents but they are for our clients anyway so it's nothing personal..
3 people like this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
so that makes it official task since its for your clients. th gifts we wrapped are for my boss's friends and colleagues and probably for her grandchildren. ^__^
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
13 Dec 07
LOL ^_^ If ur suspicion comes true, den there wun be any surprise for your christmas presents because u already know wat are the presents available ^_^ hehe.. But at the same time, u can make a mark on the wrapper of the present u want, so that during gift exchange, u will get that present ^_^ haha.. i do sometimes do my boss errands, like transferring of things, going bank, helping to buy things :) but i have never handle calls and be make a scrapgoat yet.. hehe
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
LOL it turned out the gifts weren't for us. its for the kids. ^__^;; so now we don't have any idea of what our boss will give us. last year she gave us a pair of pajamas. ^__^
it isn't my boss that makes us scapegoats. it is one the division chiefs here. it seems she has debts from a credit card company and that company never fails to call here regularly looking for the chief. she makes us tell the credit card compny that she's out of the office even if she's really here. and I'm getting tired of it. the company even sent a representative here looking for that chief. she was here that day and we had a hard time hiding her.
I swear, the next time that company calls, or sends a rep, I will give the phone number of their division or lead the rep to their office!
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
18 Dec 07
it hasn't really come to the point that we have to report it to our boss. and our boss has a lot in her mind that she doesn't have the time for that kind of trouble. but if worst comes to worst, she'll be informed about it.
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
13 Dec 07
wow.. ur boss is really kind hearted ^_^ hehe.. i'm sure u all also dun mind helping to wrap those presents when knowing it's for kids.. hehe :)
If that the case, it's really bad of that division chief to do that, and y dun your boss do anything to that division chief?? it looks like so troublesome ^_^
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
27 Dec 07
sO, WHAT DID YOU GET FROM YOUR BOSS! Wrapping gifts is fun doing and I just doing it especially during weddings which involve lots of decoration lots of color, glitters, what not!! It's just fun.
Now coming to my boss. He is a great person, sweetest ever person I have ever met. He would never make me run errands, I am sure. However, i take his calls when he is in the OT and when he's busy. But then that's part of my job. I am being paid for that.
love.
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
3 Jan 08
hi mimpi! ^__^
looks like you have a great boss and that you are lucky to have one! my boss gave me a tee shirt which is a little loose but I can still wear it and be fashionable. ^__^;; I love the paper bag where she put the tee shirt though. ^__^
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
17 Dec 07
That could be tricky. How will she tell what gift is for whom...or did they come with a gift name card on each article?
I've ocasionally done errands for a boss. It's not something I ever minded doing as it would break the monotony of work. One of the best things (and scariest) I ever got to do was to park my bosses very expensive car. I had to drive through the city in this big Mercedes, I was thrilled and nervous at the same time..lol.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
18 Dec 07
after wrapping a gift, we put name tags on them, a post-it note. so she can tell which is which. ^__^
wow! driving a mercedez??? that's awesome! even if it wasn't yours at least you have experienced driving one. ^__^ and yeah, it really does break the monotony at work. and any break in the routine is sooo welcome in the office. ^__^;;
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
13 Dec 07
Thankfully no. I wouldn't. I guess I am not corporate material.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
18 Dec 07
If it doesn't bother you to do the errands, and you work in an office and you like your job, then you are corporate material. Me, I wouldn't be happy doing errands, or wearing my Sunday best and sit behind a desk so I am not corporate material.
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
24 Dec 07
oh i see. so that's what you mean. LOL thanks sarah, ^__^
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
18 Dec 07
corporate material?? am I a corporate material because I do some of my boss's personal errands/stuffs?
1 person likes this
@cefaz_21 (2596)
• Philippines
18 Dec 07
Yes always, and I have learned to accept it now and just be happy with it, I am an assistant to the Chairman of the board of the company I work for so my job goes with some personal errands.
before I used to complain of the things that I think are too personal.now I understand that my boss trust me to do those stuff.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
24 Dec 07
wow. that's a really professional way of dealing with it. i guess you're right. if a boss lets her subordinates do her personal stuffs, it would mean she trusts them and she could rely on them. yeah.. you're right.. ^__^
@saivenkaat802003 (4823)
• India
25 Dec 07
Hi secretbear,
Once in a while is okay, but when any personality,repeatedly asks us to do an errand for them,be it boss or anyone, we have every right to kick his/her a$$, and make them to do it.
But going by your statements, i think you boss is kind enough to all her subordinates. Merry Christmas to you, and to your boss.
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
27 Dec 07
You're right saiven. she is a nice boss. even though sometimes, she has a temper we get scared of. ^__^;; but we are used to it and we understand it. Merry Christmas to you too. ^__^
@jhoana_joey (616)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
Most of the time...YES... so I'm thinking of doing this also in the future... when I will be the boss and I have subordinates...LOL just kidding.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
LOL do not do unto others what you don't want to do unto you! LOL its better to get revenge against the person who wronged you than take revenge against innocent people. ^__^;;
@jhoana_joey (616)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
I also believe in that motto. Don't worry I'm not serious in getting revenge to anybody. LOL.
1 person likes this
@masterviajero (697)
• Philippines
25 Dec 07
i dont do my boss' personal errands.. our boss always ask our maintenance guys to do his "personal" errands.. although they are errand boys, they are paid by the company to do errands needed by company employees.. i just dont know why hed think he can also ask them for his personal errand! not a good attitude..
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
27 Dec 07
its the bossy attitude. since he is boss he thinks he can ask everyone to do his bidding. .
@GurlinthaCity (44)
• United States
19 Dec 07
My boss is the owner of the company and he treats everyone like crap. He has his assistant purchase tampons for his young wife; He has his assistant run to Macy's to pick up swimming suits for their vacation; He has his assistant return shoes, clothes and everything else! Sometimes his assistant eats her lunch in the taxi cab.
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
24 Dec 07
that's too much! i mean, a few and easy personal errands are okay, but buying tampons, picking up swimsuits and clothes and everything.. that's just too much! that's against the law.
@jarves (814)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
My boss always does that. He makes me do his personal matters like for example, he wants me to study this new device like s cellphone and other tech gadgets so that if I know already how to operate, then I can teach him how to operate. He even let's me go to his house to fix his computer or network.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
so he made you his personal technician?? ^__^;; well at least it shows that you're a tech genius! you should ask him for a Christmas gift! LOL does he compensate you for doing all that tech repairing an stuff?
@larskie23 (866)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
Well our boss dont ask errands to us. But us, the "officemates" always ask errands to one of our officemate. Pay bills, buy this, buy that. and the one we're asking, doesnt complain. because as he do some errands he gets something. so no problem.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
a ok.. so its give and take. then there's no problem with it. I guess. ^__^
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
well, work stuff and personal stuff are two different things. we are only paid for the work stuff and not for the boss's personal stuff/errands. so its not always okay.
@gr8life (6251)
• Malaysia
17 Dec 07
Hello secretbear,
I have no problem with my superior. He never asked me to do his personal errands. I know a few friends who have this kind of problem. I pity them as they can't say NO to their boss. I always have a very strict and particular person as my superior. Sometimes it does bring headache but sometimes, I feel glad that he is strict *smiles*
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
18 Dec 07
you're lucky to have a superior like that. and I guess his strictness means sticking to the content of your job descriptions and not making you do things other than those. ^__^ that's good.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
13 Dec 07
I have to say I do a lot of errands for my boss. Ok, so I don't work and I am the boss of the household! Hey, I still have to do them! lol.
1 person likes this
@bong_domingo (878)
• Philippines
13 Dec 07
baka nga para sa inyo yun friend? pina-wrap lng sa inyo kunwari para feel nya ibigay sa inyo kc pinaghirapan nyo i-wrap :-) but that's too much of your boss ha, char!
we also have the same case here in some of the offices, bosses asking student assistants to pay their bills or get them lunch sa canteen or even fetch their kids sa school.. bat di na lng katulong ang kinuha ? kawawa talaga mga student assistants, alilang alila :-(
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
18 Dec 07
LOL they shouldn't be called student assistants, they should be called personal assistants! ^__^;; poor students, abused but can't fight back because they need the money.
haha.. the gifts were not for us. our boss told us so. ^__^;;
