How would you feel if you were asked to bring him a cup of coffee?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would. I would have an issue picking up their child from day care, but coffee, lunch and other things, no as that is why they are hiring an assistant. I assume they are on billable hours and their time is far more valuable money wise than yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BS

You people watch too much tv. This doesn't happen in real life anymore.

Totally happens IRL. Just this morning, my boss asked his assistant to get both him and me coffee from SBUX. I'm a female Sr. Associate and have had 3 assistants in my time at the firm (I've gotten along great with all of them - changes had nothing to do with me). All of them have offered to do things like get me coffee, pick up my lunches and dinners, etc. I also have never felt uncomfortable asking. We are at times a very busy practice and it's often the case that I am figuratively chained to my desk and unable to step away, even for 5 minutes, to get those things for myself. So I, for one, have appreciated my assistants' willingness to do these things...even if it does feel a bit 1950-ish. And I've always expressed sincere gratitude to them. But if you aren't up for that, I don't necessarily blame you - I think it's a company culture thing and better to know now that's what is expected of assistants. Sounds like you didn't want the job anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a legal secretary. I've been asked to get coffee. I've also been asked to get lunch. I've been asked to pick up dry cleaning. I've been asked to fax personal things related to my former boss's wife's delivery of their children, things related to their kids' school, vacation-related reservations, etc. At that time, I worked for a junior partner (male, age 42) and a senior associate (male, age 36).

That said, they also brought me coffee and lunch a fair amount, if they were going out, and they almost always apologized for things like the dry cleaning. It wasn't an every day thing, but it does happen, PP.

yuck

never

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would feel fine to bring him a cup of coffee if I was going to get one for myself.

And I would think that he would bring me one too when he went to grab a cup for himself.

See? I can play nice.

- Female Junior Assistant.

People should just take a deep breath, chill out and always do the polite thing. I am a C-level manager, and if I am passing my assistant's desk on the way to get offer, I offer to get some. And if someone offers it to me (and assuming I am not already overcaffeinated ) I accept it without thinking about position, rank, etc.

[Anonymous]

I've been a legal secretary for the last 19 years. Only ONE attorney has asked me to get him lunch or coffee and he was a complete and total dick in many, many ways.

At every law firm I've worked at, the attorneys have been told in training what they are and are not allowed to ask their secretaries to do and I believe they're told not to ask for coffee or lunch or personal errands.

Having said all that...
If i know they drink Starbucks and I want to go there for myself, I may pop in and offer to get them coffee too. If the partner I work for is on a long call and I hear him coughing I may walk in and give him a glass of water. If I see she's got back to back meetings and no time for lunch I may say "hey I'm going to this area for lunch, do you want me to pick up something for you?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eh it depends on what kind of industry. I have some friends who work as assistants and some do end up fetching coffee or lunch for their bosses because that's just part of the atmosphere there. Although all my friends are quite happy at their jobs because their bosses aren't jerks about it. More like "hey X, since you're going out for lunch today/running errands/whatever, do you mind picking me up some lunch on the way back? Here's some money. Get whatever you want to" or "hey X, next time you get some coffee, can you grab me some? Swamped here and I could use a caffeine jolt".

We've had extensive conversations about this since I'm in a male dominated field and although I'm at the same level as some of my colleagues, I've been treated like an assistant by some of the senior men. I was once talking to my assistant about how the day looked and needed to rearrange some stuff, and one of the most senior men came up to me and said "I'd love a tuna sandwich for lunch today. Can you take care of that for me sweetheart?"

Holy shit! What did you say? I like to think I'd come back with a quick, "No, honeybuns, I can't take care of that for you." But in reality I'd probably be too stunned.

[Anonymous]

If you are on the clock, what possible difference does it make to you?

You're getting paid to run those errands. Why do you care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are on the clock, what possible difference does it make to you?

You're getting paid to run those errands. Why do you care?

–says the man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh it depends on what kind of industry. I have some friends who work as assistants and some do end up fetching coffee or lunch for their bosses because that's just part of the atmosphere there. Although all my friends are quite happy at their jobs because their bosses aren't jerks about it. More like "hey X, since you're going out for lunch today/running errands/whatever, do you mind picking me up some lunch on the way back? Here's some money. Get whatever you want to" or "hey X, next time you get some coffee, can you grab me some? Swamped here and I could use a caffeine jolt".

We've had extensive conversations about this since I'm in a male dominated field and although I'm at the same level as some of my colleagues, I've been treated like an assistant by some of the senior men. I was once talking to my assistant about how the day looked and needed to rearrange some stuff, and one of the most senior men came up to me and said "I'd love a tuna sandwich for lunch today. Can you take care of that for me sweetheart?"

Holy shit! What did you say? I like to think I'd come back with a quick, "No, honeybuns, I can't take care of that for you." But in reality I'd probably be too stunned.

I pretty much said "sorry I brought my lunch today as I've got patients lined up all day so I'll be stealing bites in between my dictations. I'll be sure to let you know if I hear of people ordering though!". Luckily this guy was in the office once a week and then gone for winter. He was also untouchable as he was a founding doctor in the practice and his say still carried a lot of weight even though he wasn't technically in charge anymore. Couldn't piss him off even though he treated women like they were objects far below his level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would feel fine to bring him a cup of coffee if I was going to get one for myself.

And I would think that he would bring me one too when he went to grab a cup for himself.

See? I can play nice.

- Female Junior Assistant.

People should just take a deep breath, chill out and always do the polite thing. I am a C-level manager, and if I am passing my assistant's desk on the way to get offer, I offer to get some. And if someone offers it to me (and assuming I am not already overcaffeinated ) I accept it without thinking about position, rank, etc.

Well... you may want to consider that it's much easier to take a deep breath and not think about this if you are at the level you are. You also may want to consider that as good and laid back as your intentions may be, it could possibly come across as demeaning. You are in a position of power; one repsonsibility is thinking aBout how that power Impacts others.

[Anonymous]

When I had a personal assistant, meaning someone assign to help just me, I had no problem asking her to get me coffee, lunch etc., as her function was to free me up from doing anything for which I could not bill. When I was at a different firm and there were pairing, three or four attorneys to one assistant, I would not think of it, because her job responsibility was more along the lines of answering the phones, keeping the files, faxing and copying.

I don't see how such tasks should be considered beneath an assistant. When I clerked for a federal judge, I brought him coffee, lunch, what-have-you.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't happen in the fed gov.

[Anonymous]

If you are someone's assistant and they are in the middle of a job and need coffee to get the job done, certainly get them coffee. That's what it takes to get the job done.

[Anonymous]

I used to be an admin. Getting coffee wasn't something asked of me, but I babysat my supervisor's children on "take your child to work day" each year for several years. Her younger child didn't mind, but the last year that happened, the older child was visibly upset about her mother foisting her off on others once again. I gather it happened a lot.

I didn't mind babysitting (too much). They were nice children. All the same, I felt bad for them, and relieved to move on.

[Anonymous]

I'm a legal secretary. When I was interviewed the partners specifically told me that they would NOT ask me to fetch them coffee, lunch, etc. and that they are fully capable of doing these things on their own. But, there is one attorney here who ALWAYS asks (not just me, he usually asks everyone who is at their desk/office) on his way out if I'd like coffee, etc. when he is going downstairs to the coffeeshop.