CEO has tasked me with a personal item

Anonymous
My workload is insanely high already, as in there simply isn't enough time in the day to get it done (and yes, I frequently work from home at night/on weekends). My work is critical to business development efforts, with tight and very firm deadlines. Add to that, the CEO of our company has tasked me with a personal item, and just won't let it go. It's not a situation where I can just write a report and be done, it's more involved and ongoing than that.

I'm not happy about it and I don't have time for it. I expect my boss to advocate for me on this, but he hasn't.

Honestly, it's making me want to quit.

I'm curious if anyone who has been in a similar situation has successfully offloaded this type of personal tasking by leadership?
Anonymous
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?
Anonymous
How can anyone help unless you say what the task is ?
Anonymous
If you don't want to do it quit. Otherwise treat it as another job responsibility and prioritize it appropriately.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:If you don't want to do it quit. Otherwise treat it as another job responsibility and prioritize it appropriately.


BINGO! Your choices are: quit, refuse to do it and be fired, to do it with fidelity and retain your job.

You should keep in mind that the Board of Directors is paying your CEO commensurate with his ability and skill level. This situation is remarkably similar to the arrangement you have with the company except your skill level is considerably lower and your pay matches your skill level. If the CEO needs a low level task done then you are the person to do it.
Anonymous
You posted about this months ago. What changed?
Anonymous
What is the task? Why can't you do it? Sometimes we all have to do tasks we think are beneath us or not in our scope.
Anonymous
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.
Anonymous
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?


She is a female CEO.
Anonymous
If the CEO knows you and likes you enough to give you personal tasks, you should be very happy. This translates into job security and possible career advancement.
Anonymous
I planned my CEOs wedding, and managed it day of. Sucked and took so much time and energy, but it sure wasn't like I could say no!
mjsmith
Member Offline
Talk o the CEO privately and explain that you current work load is pretty demanding and if they could alleviate some of that you'd be able to better apply yourself to the personal task.
Anonymous
Who are all these pushovers who think that the CEO's personal tasks should be anyone's responsibility... Menial work tasks, sure you'd have to do it, but definitely not her personal errands or business. You are both at work, employed by a company - she is not allowed to use company resources for her personal life.
Anonymous
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
Anonymous
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


Are you doing these for free? If not, what's the problem as long as she pays you.
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