Resources and Information: Executive PAs, Secretaries, Administrators & Office Managers
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This week our Sound Off is from Hanna. Hanna is a PA to the operations manager of a pharmaceutical company. She was quick to email her comments on being a "second class citizen" at her job.
Second Class Citizen
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 I am one of only three PAs in our company, and I can relate to this topic on a daily basis. Our company employs about 80 people, many with scientific backgrounds. I have a degree in Sociology which I am proud of, but I am a PA by choice. I love the diversity and challenges we face everyday. You would think everything is peachy but it isn't. The office is predominantly male and I am looked on as the stereo typical "secretary."
The manager I report to directly treats me with respect and listens to my ideas and views. It's the rest of the company that needs to be educated. Let me illustrate with a few examples. Four other managers are directly responsible for reporting to my manager. One of these always tries to "dismiss me" from staff meetings because "She is just the secretary, she doesn't need to sit though whole meeting." Ok, I may not get all the technical details, but it helps ME keep up on what is going on, and I have mentioned to my manager I resent the "She is just the secretary" comment. My manager just says that I shouldn't pay attention to it. Another example is when my background comes up in conversation. I am asked "Why am I wasting my degree?" I am not wasting it! I am just using it in the profession of my choice. I can go on and on with examples. The other PAs in my company feel the same so we got together and decided to educate the company in a non-confrontational way. The company has a newsletter on project, events and people. We are addressing some of the issues putting our personal history into it, why we chose this specific field and what we do within the company. We know it won't change everyone's view of "the secretaries" but may mean a few begin to see us for who we are. |
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What do you think?
• Did you know? Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962) once said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
• Did you know? Definition of a second-class citizen: "someone who is treated as if they are less important than other people in society."
Here are a few suggestions for some future week sound offs.
What do you feel is appropriate dress code for work, what do you feel is crossing the border on proper dress code?
Or possibly,
Work when sick or stay home? (pros and cons of both)
Feel free to send us your 300 word sound off. If these topics don't ignite your thoughts, use a topic listed below.
Or possibly,
Work when sick or stay home? (pros and cons of both)
Feel free to send us your 300 word sound off. If these topics don't ignite your thoughts, use a topic listed below.
It can be any topic you feel strongly about:
- Overtime
- Age Discrimination
- Hostile Work Environment
- At Will Employment
- Gas Prices
- Back stabbing co workers
- Childcare costs
- Virtual Assistants
- Company Benefits
- Company Benefits
- Workplace Safety
- Co-Workers
- Holidays your feelings, comments
- Smoking and the bans in public places
- Events in the news
- Not being appreciated for your value
- Humorous topics
- Topics that make you stop and think