CEO has tasked me with a personal item

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In most circumstances I’d say “of course I’d love to help you with (useless personal task). He are my current tasks, priorities and time estimates . Where would this (useless personal task) fall in regards to priority?”

If CEO pushes back and indicates that I have to just squeeze it in and do it all. Use business-speak and say something like “well I just want to clear understanding of what your needs are. And make sure we have a common understanding of the expectations. I currently have 50 hours of work that I need to do during my 40 hour work week. You’d like me to add another 20 hours of work, making this my top priority. If you’d like me to complete it all in the allotted time frame, quality expectations will need to be reduced. I just want to clarify that your expectation is all the work get done regardless of quality”

I think that's a good idea - passive aggressive but also appropriate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I left my last job because of being assigned too many personal tasks by my CEO. I was the company graphic designer and the CEO was always asking me to design things for his wife's groups, family birthdays, kid's projects/activities, and things like that. The CEO once even gave my services as a donation to this kid's private school without asking me. Just gave me a heads up that so-and-so had won a project of their choice coupon that previous weekend.

It wouldn't have been so bad if they didn't come with little to no instructions and then after presenting the result, have to go back and forth making edit after edit on things that could have been done from the beginning.

An example, "Hey, Ella's birthday is coming up and she wants a ninja princess party. I'm going to need a banner and some table decorations." "Okay, how many table decorations?" "Eh, probably 5." "What colors should I work with?" "Just make it look cool. Great, thanks!" Submits the proofs before printing... first email "Deb said Ella's favorite color right now is lilac. Can we make the ninja princesses that color?" Submits again "looks great, but let's add some stars" Submits again "I meant throwing stars hahahaha" Submits again "Let me see it with white text" "can you make them more princess-y but still ninja-y?" etc etc

Oh my god! So glad you left that position. Anyone who doesn't know the difference between an employee in the corporate space and a personal household attendant should not supervise anyone, ever.

CEO's company, CEO's dime. Her job was graphic design for the company. It doesn't matter if it is an outside client or internal client, the job is still the same no matter who is paying. Getting huffy without understanding that shows a real lack of maturity and a failure to understand the business world.

Oh, go pee up a rope. Her job is graphic design FOR THE COMPANY. Not graphic design FOR THE BOSS. It shows a real lack of maturity and a failure to understand jack if you can't tell the difference.

If the CEO owns the company then the CEO -is- the company. How can you not understand this? It doesn't matter if it is an external or internal client. Her job is to perform all duties as assigned, not all duties she wants to perform. Sheesh, it is a wonder some of you manage to hold onto your jobs.

It happens, but it is not ethical or moral. Please do not encourage that behavior on the pretext that "everyone does it", or "that's now it works". It shouldn't, and the way to change things is for all of us to push back.

Of course, you're probably the CEO asking for these types of jobs. In that case, you are unethical and immoral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the task? Is it researching the best pre-school for his kid, the cheapest manscaping place nearby, something at all work-related? How much extra time will it take, and for how long?

The task is buying and putting together a 1,000 gallon fish tank with tropical fish. I am then responsible for all of the upkeep and feeding (buying food).

I am the OP, and I did not write the previous post. The task is not to put together a 1,000 gallon fish tank.

With that being said-- PP, you are hilarious. Can we meet for a drink? Part of me didn't want to make the correction so we could watch the fish tank responses play out!

[Anonymous]

The task is related to the CEO's home, but I don't really want to give details beyond that. It is not work related.

--OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, don't bite the hand that feeds you. Do it with a smile. Look at it as an opportunity to impress the boss.

I know it sucks but you either have to do it or get a new job. Which I'd look for anyway.

No. Do not do it "with a smile." State your boundaries, whatever those might be (e.g., ask the dude, "I'll add this as overtime"). If he pushes back, you say no.

Otherwise your job will become one long clusterf--k in which you're buying flowers for his grandma and walking his dog and picking up the lazy ass's drycleaning.

Uh huh. Give it a try OP and let us know how this approach works out for you. I expect you won't have a job with this company for long.

[Anonymous]

The task is to ship out the CEO's Rodan + Fields orders. I don't want to be a #momboss!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I left my last job because of being assigned too many personal tasks by my CEO. I was the company graphic designer and the CEO was always asking me to design things for his wife's groups, family birthdays, kid's projects/activities, and things like that. The CEO once even gave my services as a donation to this kid's private school without asking me. Just gave me a heads up that so-and-so had won a project of their choice coupon that previous weekend.

It wouldn't have been so bad if they didn't come with little to no instructions and then after presenting the result, have to go back and forth making edit after edit on things that could have been done from the beginning.

An example, "Hey, Ella's birthday is coming up and she wants a ninja princess party. I'm going to need a banner and some table decorations." "Okay, how many table decorations?" "Eh, probably 5." "What colors should I work with?" "Just make it look cool. Great, thanks!" Submits the proofs before printing... first email "Deb said Ella's favorite color right now is lilac. Can we make the ninja princesses that color?" Submits again "looks great, but let's add some stars" Submits again "I meant throwing stars hahahaha" Submits again "Let me see it with white text" "can you make them more princess-y but still ninja-y?" etc etc

Oh my god! So glad you left that position. Anyone who doesn't know the difference between an employee in the corporate space and a personal household attendant should not supervise anyone, ever.

CEO's company, CEO's dime. Her job was graphic design for the company. It doesn't matter if it is an outside client or internal client, the job is still the same no matter who is paying. Getting huffy without understanding that shows a real lack of maturity and a failure to understand the business world.

Oh, go pee up a rope. Her job is graphic design FOR THE COMPANY. Not graphic design FOR THE BOSS. It shows a real lack of maturity and a failure to understand jack if you can't tell the difference.

If the CEO owns the company then the CEO -is- the company. How can you not understand this? It doesn't matter if it is an external or internal client. Her job is to perform all duties as assigned, not all duties she wants to perform. Sheesh, it is a wonder some of you manage to hold onto your jobs.

It happens, but it is not ethical or moral. Please do not encourage that behavior on the pretext that "everyone does it", or "that's now it works". It shouldn't, and the way to change things is for all of us to push back.

Of course, you're probably the CEO asking for these types of jobs. In that case, you are unethical and immoral.

Lmao there is no chance that idiot is CEO of anything. Sounds more like a 14yo who just read atlas shrugged. It is spring break!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I left my last job because of being assigned too many personal tasks by my CEO. I was the company graphic designer and the CEO was always asking me to design things for his wife's groups, family birthdays, kid's projects/activities, and things like that. The CEO once even gave my services as a donation to this kid's private school without asking me. Just gave me a heads up that so-and-so had won a project of their choice coupon that previous weekend.

It wouldn't have been so bad if they didn't come with little to no instructions and then after presenting the result, have to go back and forth making edit after edit on things that could have been done from the beginning.

An example, "Hey, Ella's birthday is coming up and she wants a ninja princess party. I'm going to need a banner and some table decorations." "Okay, how many table decorations?" "Eh, probably 5." "What colors should I work with?" "Just make it look cool. Great, thanks!" Submits the proofs before printing... first email "Deb said Ella's favorite color right now is lilac. Can we make the ninja princesses that color?" Submits again "looks great, but let's add some stars" Submits again "I meant throwing stars hahahaha" Submits again "Let me see it with white text" "can you make them more princess-y but still ninja-y?" etc etc

Oh my god! So glad you left that position. Anyone who doesn't know the difference between an employee in the corporate space and a personal household attendant should not supervise anyone, ever.

CEO's company, CEO's dime. Her job was graphic design for the company. It doesn't matter if it is an outside client or internal client, the job is still the same no matter who is paying. Getting huffy without understanding that shows a real lack of maturity and a failure to understand the business world.

Oh, go pee up a rope. Her job is graphic design FOR THE COMPANY. Not graphic design FOR THE BOSS. It shows a real lack of maturity and a failure to understand jack if you can't tell the difference.

If the CEO owns the company then the CEO -is- the company. How can you not understand this? It doesn't matter if it is an external or internal client. Her job is to perform all duties as assigned, not all duties she wants to perform. Sheesh, it is a wonder some of you manage to hold onto your jobs.

It happens, but it is not ethical or moral. Please do not encourage that behavior on the pretext that "everyone does it", or "that's now it works". It shouldn't, and the way to change things is for all of us to push back.

Of course, you're probably the CEO asking for these types of jobs. In that case, you are unethical and immoral.

Well bless your heart. Immoral means not moral and connotes evil or licentious behavior while unethical means not morally correct and/or an unwillingness to work within the rules of conduct for a profession or society. It is hard to understand how you think that doing what you're being instructed to do at work, as long as it is not an illegal act, could be possibly construed as immoral or unethical. In fact, by your argument, refusing to perform the task would be immoral or unethical if you expect to stay employed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the task? Is it researching the best pre-school for his kid, the cheapest manscaping place nearby, something at all work-related? How much extra time will it take, and for how long?

The task is buying and putting together a 1,000 gallon fish tank with tropical fish. I am then responsible for all of the upkeep and feeding (buying food).

I am the OP, and I did not write the previous post. The task is not to put together a 1,000 gallon fish tank.

With that being said-- PP, you are hilarious. Can we meet for a drink? Part of me didn't want to make the correction so we could watch the fish tank responses play out!

I was going to say if I wasn't supposed be personally responsible for maintaining it - i.e. - I could hire a service - I would have SOOOOOO much fun with this.

[Anonymous]

Here's an idea, OP! Since you feel so strongly about it, you should write a letter to your company's Board of Directors. Tell them what job you've been assigned and tell them that you are not going to do it because of all the reasons you've given here. Come back and report to us what they say!

[Anonymous]

I worked for a (small non-profit) company where I was given tangential tasks regularly. Some I did and some I did not but I wasn’t fired for refusing. I was pretty miserable with the tasks I was assigned and not a great employee but eventually quit to go to grad school.

In my case some of the tasks bordered on unethical so I felt okay refusing to do them (eg take supplies from the law firm we rented space from; copy and distribute large volumes of copyright protected works). Others I didn’t like (pick up dry cleaning and prescriptions) but did anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s at the office, it’s an office job.

If it’s at home, it’s tax fraud. I can’t hire a nanny at my business then pay them pre income tax.

That was my immediate thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the task? Is it researching the best pre-school for his kid, the cheapest manscaping place nearby, something at all work-related? How much extra time will it take, and for how long?

The task is buying and putting together a 1,000 gallon fish tank with tropical fish. I am then responsible for all of the upkeep and feeding (buying food).

I am the OP, and I did not write the previous post. The task is not to put together a 1,000 gallon fish tank.

With that being said-- PP, you are hilarious. Can we meet for a drink? Part of me didn't want to make the correction so we could watch the fish tank responses play out!

I was going to say if I wasn't supposed be personally responsible for maintaining it - i.e. - I could hire a service - I would have SOOOOOO much fun with this.

Wait, it's not?? So disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's an idea, OP! Since you feel so strongly about it, you should write a letter to your company's Board of Directors. Tell them what job you've been assigned and tell them that you are not going to do it because of all the reasons you've given here. Come back and report to us what they say!

This is it, OP. DO THIS!

[Anonymous]

I worked for a small company where the CEO wanted a fish tank in the lobby. He tasked the office administrative assistant with maintaining the fish tank. Every month the sea anemones would die, killing all the fish except the clown fish and every month the company bought new fish for the tank. A lot of fish died at the company. Eventually the company died as well, which was probably a good thing for the fish.