I was working as an Executive Assistant in a small firm. Great working atmosphere, very fulfilling job. However, not very professional, like PF only after 6 months, part of salary in cash, etc.
Got a new offer from a very reputed company. Joined here a month now. But there is a lot of harassment from the Chairman's wife, who is also a Co. director. I get the feeling she wants me to resign because post my recruitment they feel there was no need for a new recruit in the first place. She wants me to study about 25 old huge box files intensely which have to be eventually discarded.
Plus there are a lot of dual instructions from the Chairman and her. But he eventually gives in to her demands to maintain the peace. I feel like a ping pong ball!
Now, my old employer, not knowing of my current fate, has made me a similar offer to the present employer with PF, salary by cheque, etc. He has emailed me saying the reason for this is because he cannot get a person of my capabilities!
Should I go back to the smaller firm or would it be better to stay with this bigger firm? If the Chairman's wife is not happy with me here, can she terminate me during my probation period, because if so, I will then have neither this job nor the old job offer? Am very confused. Please help.
From India, Pune
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4Got a new offer from a very reputed company. Joined here a month now. But there is a lot of harassment from the Chairman's wife, who is also a Co. director. I get the feeling she wants me to resign because post my recruitment they feel there was no need for a new recruit in the first place. She wants me to study about 25 old huge box files intensely which have to be eventually discarded.
Plus there are a lot of dual instructions from the Chairman and her. But he eventually gives in to her demands to maintain the peace. I feel like a ping pong ball!
Now, my old employer, not knowing of my current fate, has made me a similar offer to the present employer with PF, salary by cheque, etc. He has emailed me saying the reason for this is because he cannot get a person of my capabilities!
Should I go back to the smaller firm or would it be better to stay with this bigger firm? If the Chairman's wife is not happy with me here, can she terminate me during my probation period, because if so, I will then have neither this job nor the old job offer? Am very confused. Please help.
From India, Pune
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Hello,
At the end of the day, it's 'peace of mind' and 'satisfaction' (in your words 'fulfilling') that finally count in whatever one does.
Given that your chairman's wife in the current job is also an active participant at the office and seemingly against your presence, there's no guarantee that you can survive on a long-term basis. Everything else that you mentioned -- a reputed company, etc. -- would come later.
Like the saying goes: "I am the boss of this house, and I have my wife's permission to say it." Even if your chairman can resist her for some time, how long he can is subjective -- after all, he too needs to have his peace of mind.
There's an old saying: You will be happy where you are needed rather than at a place you need. Hope you get the point.
All the best.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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At the end of the day, it's 'peace of mind' and 'satisfaction' (in your words 'fulfilling') that finally count in whatever one does.
Given that your chairman's wife in the current job is also an active participant at the office and seemingly against your presence, there's no guarantee that you can survive on a long-term basis. Everything else that you mentioned -- a reputed company, etc. -- would come later.
Like the saying goes: "I am the boss of this house, and I have my wife's permission to say it." Even if your chairman can resist her for some time, how long he can is subjective -- after all, he too needs to have his peace of mind.
There's an old saying: You will be happy where you are needed rather than at a place you need. Hope you get the point.
All the best.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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Please be cool and have control on yourself with the things first because you are actually going through the “Change Fever” which is obvious I would say.
You were working with a small firm but now you are working with a big company with new things, new bosses, new working conditions, new mates and different style and system, which I believe you need to understand and accept. Sometime when people like you who have worked with small firms and joins new and big company takes time to get familiar with the new changes and in acceptance of new work conditions.
With just a month, I do not think you can understand your new Bosses and their expectations from you so easily even the work. You are an Executive Assistant and I believe, you know why reading filling and sort of work is important for you (EA/PA). Perhaps she found something in you or by your profile and expecting something from you, which you are not getting. However, yes if she wants you to read 25 huge box file instantly, which is not practical and possible or maybe there are some miscommunication that made you feel like this because no Boss expect his/her EA to read file in a day or week but to understand the work culture by going through the historical data and communication held in past.
About dual instructions, can you please explain it further?
I would suggest you to not to take these things otherwise, have patience, be calm and compose, spend time or accept the new work conditions.
One more thing, to have a better understanding between you and your Boss, you need to spend time with them by any work/discussions or sharing yourself with work. Boss & EA relation is different then any other professional relations that seeks much more understanding and effort.
Btw, what harassment you are talking about here?
From India, Gurgaon
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You were working with a small firm but now you are working with a big company with new things, new bosses, new working conditions, new mates and different style and system, which I believe you need to understand and accept. Sometime when people like you who have worked with small firms and joins new and big company takes time to get familiar with the new changes and in acceptance of new work conditions.
With just a month, I do not think you can understand your new Bosses and their expectations from you so easily even the work. You are an Executive Assistant and I believe, you know why reading filling and sort of work is important for you (EA/PA). Perhaps she found something in you or by your profile and expecting something from you, which you are not getting. However, yes if she wants you to read 25 huge box file instantly, which is not practical and possible or maybe there are some miscommunication that made you feel like this because no Boss expect his/her EA to read file in a day or week but to understand the work culture by going through the historical data and communication held in past.
About dual instructions, can you please explain it further?
I would suggest you to not to take these things otherwise, have patience, be calm and compose, spend time or accept the new work conditions.
One more thing, to have a better understanding between you and your Boss, you need to spend time with them by any work/discussions or sharing yourself with work. Boss & EA relation is different then any other professional relations that seeks much more understanding and effort.
Btw, what harassment you are talking about here?
From India, Gurgaon
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All the best for your future. If your previous company is recalling you for the job, this means they have some respect and importance for you. Consider going back to your previous organization. Don't focus on whether it is big or small.
Thanks,
Asrar
From India, Hyderabad
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Thanks,
Asrar
From India, Hyderabad
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Hi,
I think you should go back to your previous employer! Job satisfaction is more important than anything else. If you have job satisfaction, your productivity will increase day by day.
Regards,
From India, Chennai
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I think you should go back to your previous employer! Job satisfaction is more important than anything else. If you have job satisfaction, your productivity will increase day by day.
Regards,
From India, Chennai
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Dear friend,
After considering all the new opinions and thoughts of others, I would say that job satisfaction is more important to us. If we don't show our interest, there will be no closure. Have you ever thought to yourself, "What exactly am I supposed to do if I'm facing trouble with this new job or can't proceed further, while my previous job is asking me to join again because I have the abilities to rise up?" I personally suggest you go with the option of recalling the previous job and starting your career. This thought often crosses our minds, but it's best to ignore it.
Thanks and Regards,
Sayeed (HR)
Spectrosign.
From India, Hyderabad
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After considering all the new opinions and thoughts of others, I would say that job satisfaction is more important to us. If we don't show our interest, there will be no closure. Have you ever thought to yourself, "What exactly am I supposed to do if I'm facing trouble with this new job or can't proceed further, while my previous job is asking me to join again because I have the abilities to rise up?" I personally suggest you go with the option of recalling the previous job and starting your career. This thought often crosses our minds, but it's best to ignore it.
Thanks and Regards,
Sayeed (HR)
Spectrosign.
From India, Hyderabad
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Hi,
Judge yourselves what is correct. The suggestions given by the well-wishers should be analyzed, and a decision should be taken by yourselves. After all, life is yours to expect positive results. A change of job might bring you new prospects and new challenges.
All the best
From India, Bangalore
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Judge yourselves what is correct. The suggestions given by the well-wishers should be analyzed, and a decision should be taken by yourselves. After all, life is yours to expect positive results. A change of job might bring you new prospects and new challenges.
All the best
From India, Bangalore
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Hi, Reading the mail i suggest that u should go back to the previous Employer, Job satisfaction is more important than anything else , if you have Job satisfaction ,You have everthing
From India, Nagpur
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From India, Nagpur
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Dear Anil,
I have 13 years of experience behind me with big corporate companies in Mumbai and London, and I am aware of what you call 'Change Fever'. Unfortunately, this company, although it is reputed (I wouldn't say big for me considering I have worked for firms much bigger than it), the style and pace of working are very traditional and slow.
I am used to a more modern style of working where to understand the history of a company, you can go through files, but I wouldn't think it necessary to study files that are going to be of no use in the future and eventually discarded. What is the need for me to waste my energy over that?
By dual instructions, I mean the Chairman gives me one, but the wife shoots that down and gives a whole different set of instructions altogether, which, by the way, don't make much sense to me.
Other colleagues, way of working, etc., I can easily manage.
The volume of business is not much to handle, and with my experience, 2 weeks of going through past correspondence was enough for me to carry on the job now.
But what I am finding difficult is to understand the wife's expectations of me. When asked, she will not elaborate. All she says is go through the files.
She has asked the Chairman not to give me any new jobs to do unless I finish studying those files intensively. When I clarified this with the Chairman, all he said was "I know the exercise is futile, but please do what she says, otherwise, she will just be upset with all of us."
I probably should mention here that the Chairman is 70 years old, and the wife is 68!
From India, Pune
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I have 13 years of experience behind me with big corporate companies in Mumbai and London, and I am aware of what you call 'Change Fever'. Unfortunately, this company, although it is reputed (I wouldn't say big for me considering I have worked for firms much bigger than it), the style and pace of working are very traditional and slow.
I am used to a more modern style of working where to understand the history of a company, you can go through files, but I wouldn't think it necessary to study files that are going to be of no use in the future and eventually discarded. What is the need for me to waste my energy over that?
By dual instructions, I mean the Chairman gives me one, but the wife shoots that down and gives a whole different set of instructions altogether, which, by the way, don't make much sense to me.
Other colleagues, way of working, etc., I can easily manage.
The volume of business is not much to handle, and with my experience, 2 weeks of going through past correspondence was enough for me to carry on the job now.
But what I am finding difficult is to understand the wife's expectations of me. When asked, she will not elaborate. All she says is go through the files.
She has asked the Chairman not to give me any new jobs to do unless I finish studying those files intensively. When I clarified this with the Chairman, all he said was "I know the exercise is futile, but please do what she says, otherwise, she will just be upset with all of us."
I probably should mention here that the Chairman is 70 years old, and the wife is 68!
From India, Pune
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It is good that you have a vast and enough experience to understand the working conditions and can manage the things easily, and if you feel that the working conditions are not according to you or not suitable, must not continue or leave your job. However, if you feel that the main problem, which bothering you, is that the wife of your Boss (Another Boss) who has a different work style and then your Boss (Her Husband), I believe there is seriously lack of understanding.
Do you really want to get the solution of your problem or say how can you handle the problem/situation you are going through here? Although you can leave your job anytime and there is nothing that can stops you by doing this, except employment conditions but if you seriously wanna handle the situation or are here to discuss about how to deal with your 2nd Boss (wife of your Boss), I believe we are worth discussing, else do what other are suggesting to QUIT.
Experience gives knowledge, better understanding, different style of working, patience and more maturity to handle the situation/working conditions. This is the main difference between an EA with 13+ experiences and EA with 2/3 years of experience. And these qualities and confidence make you able to handle the volume of business, related correspondence and communication between Bosses and other departments being a bridge/ an essential part or most important connection.
Apart from that, with an EA position, what quality and skill required most is to be to understand the “Expectations of a Boss” and to have a good communication system or relationship. Hope you read what I said above about the relationship/terms between Boss and EA, which is very different from any other professional relationship /terms under an Organization.
You also know how senior with age your both Bosses are, therefore, it is now more important to understand their expectations with you (their EA) who have a wonderful experience. The statement and reactions by your Boss after sharing yourself with him about the situation are also evidently saying the points you have to work with henceforth.
Regarding reading files, if you feel that this is a waste of time, I feel there is nothing to say more about it but I do not agree with you.
Lastly, I would suggest you to speak to her (Wife of your Boss) in this regard like you did with your Boss but I feel that you need to compose yourself first. By speaking terms, problem can be solve within few minutes and I believe you can.
From India, Gurgaon
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Do you really want to get the solution of your problem or say how can you handle the problem/situation you are going through here? Although you can leave your job anytime and there is nothing that can stops you by doing this, except employment conditions but if you seriously wanna handle the situation or are here to discuss about how to deal with your 2nd Boss (wife of your Boss), I believe we are worth discussing, else do what other are suggesting to QUIT.
Experience gives knowledge, better understanding, different style of working, patience and more maturity to handle the situation/working conditions. This is the main difference between an EA with 13+ experiences and EA with 2/3 years of experience. And these qualities and confidence make you able to handle the volume of business, related correspondence and communication between Bosses and other departments being a bridge/ an essential part or most important connection.
Apart from that, with an EA position, what quality and skill required most is to be to understand the “Expectations of a Boss” and to have a good communication system or relationship. Hope you read what I said above about the relationship/terms between Boss and EA, which is very different from any other professional relationship /terms under an Organization.
You also know how senior with age your both Bosses are, therefore, it is now more important to understand their expectations with you (their EA) who have a wonderful experience. The statement and reactions by your Boss after sharing yourself with him about the situation are also evidently saying the points you have to work with henceforth.
Regarding reading files, if you feel that this is a waste of time, I feel there is nothing to say more about it but I do not agree with you.
Lastly, I would suggest you to speak to her (Wife of your Boss) in this regard like you did with your Boss but I feel that you need to compose yourself first. By speaking terms, problem can be solve within few minutes and I believe you can.
From India, Gurgaon
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