? for Administrative Assistants

[dismom2005]

A few months ago I started working a PT job as an Administrative Assistant - it's 24 hours a week. I left my FT job about a year ago even though I had put in many years there and worked my way up the ranks and salary, however I wanted to spend more time with my family.

I support one Director and 4-5 other staff. In general, I am not overloaded at work however I find that one of the staff members monopolizes my time and energy, and is asking (for what I consider) things that are above and beyond what I want a PT job responsibilities to be. Some of these things are very early meetings at distant off-site locations, finding 3rd party vendors to complete work on extremely short notice and asking me to complete assignments that can't be completed during my normal schedule (ie, hand me something late on Wednesday when i'm not back in the office until Friday).

I have the tendency from my old career self to want to stay and work the extra hours to complete these assignments, but that is not the point and technically I am not supposed to work overtime. I really do like the work (most of the time) but am afraid to fall back into old habits. I find myself being stressed out over work and my tasks, and thinking about work when i'm home even though it's just PT. I also feel that more of my workload should be going to the director and spread more evenly through the rest of the department.

Thoughts? Advice?

 

[Cindy B]

I had the same problem. I was an admin at a small private college and I only worked 10 hours a week. I crammed a lot in those 10 hours but I got really good at reminding people my schedule when they wanted me to do something.

If a person asks you to do something state something like "How much of a priority is this?... You do know that I am not back in the office until such and such day. I am not authorized for any overtime, blah blah blah.... If you would like to leave it for the next time I am in I am happy to do this for you at that time. "

 

[Alaska Catdog]

You have to pay special attention to boundaries as a part time admin. I agree with the pp who said to constantly remind co-workers of your schedule and refuse to take on work that will make you feel stressed during your off time. As a pt admin you probably don't get paid enough to bring your work home with you (figuratively and literally). If your co-workers ignore your boundary making requests take it to your director and ask that person to help you prioritize. You can most definitely prioritize your work yourself but if you bring your boss into it you make them aware of how their other employees are using you as a resource. That might help. Good luck.

 

[tasha99]

I'm a legal assistant, and being willing to be there "whenever" is a part of my job. As a trade off, I can usually work the hours I choose. When there's a trial (like this Friday ) I might have to be there into the wee hours. My son has had to sleep on the office couch a few times.