How would you deal with this?

Dr House

Dr House

Dr House

Soldato
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
13,451
Location
London
One of my good friends (and a very close friend of my girlfriend) lost her job about 6 months ago and was desperate for work as she had no money.

So knowing it was a bad idea I employed to in my company as my assistant, she takes care of my bits and bobs and managed the appointments for myself and my other stuff.

I personally don’t think it’s a difficult job; I pay her well by local standards (my friends that a young lawyers or doctors make less than her). She does not really have to come into the office unless she wants to, all I ask is that she is available on the phone almost all the time. I have calls diverted to her mobile so she is free to do what she wants with her day if there is no work.

Anyway I found out that she went for a job interview in one of the big oil companies last week and was offered a job doing "invoicing". She has not told me about any of this.

Am I wrong in feeling a little unhappy with this? I know she is trying to get a pay rise but I would rather replace her then to be pushed into increasing her pay.

Would I be wrong to dismiss her? I know the MD of the company that offered her the job and could have it retracted however I don’t feel that would be fair.
 
sounds like you enjoy having a PA ;)
what does it matter if you lose her as a employee/assistant? i mean did you have one before hand?
 
Sack her and give me the job.
I would love to sit around my house answering the phone for you. But i can't promise i will look after your bits and bobs though, surely that's a girls job ;)
I hate ungrateful people or people that do things sneaky. She should have come to you first explained her situation and then if she couldn't get what she wants from you then go off and look elsewhere.
She has been disloyal and i Hate disloyalty.
She'd be swimming with the fishes if she worked for me :D


You should know i am not really the person to advise on highering and fireing but i just can't help making a contribution :)
 
Has she been do a good job?
Is the job she's been interviewed for offering more money?

If the answer is 'yes' to both then you can't blame her for trying to better her income.

I'd known by boss for a few year before he employed me.
When I was offered another job last year I didn't tell him because there was no point unless I was offered the job.
I didn't tell him to be spiteful, perhaps her mindset is similar to mine.
 
Paras said:
Am I wrong in feeling a little unhappy with this? I know she is trying to get a pay rise but I would rather replace her then to be pushed into increasing her pay.

Would I be wrong to dismiss her? I know the MD of the company that offered her the job and could have it retracted however I don’t feel that would be fair.
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You certainly shouldn't get her job offer retracted - that's just petty.

It's understandable that you're a little peeved, as you feel that she's betraying you after you were kind enough to give you a job. However, you've got to look at it from her point of view. She obviously wants the best paying job she can, and if you're not prepared to give her the wages she can get elsewhere then she's perfectly entitled to leave.

Your plan of action seems obvious to me. You should wait and see if she hands in her notice. If she does, then you replace her and everyone's happy. If she tries to get a payrise by saying that she can get more elsewhere, then say that you're very sorry but you can't give her any more right now. That way you either get to retain her services at the current price, or you replace her with someone who is willing to work for those wages.

That gives you the same resolution, and you don't have to get up to any nasty tricks.
 
I’m sure there was a thread a few days ago where someone was asking if they should tell their employer that they are looking for a new job/attending interviews and the resounding answer was no. Personally I agree with that. While I can understand you feeling upset, especially after you have obviously gone out of your way to help her, she is only doing what anyone else would do in that position.
 
@PhilthyPhil
^^ I agree with you in normal circumstances mate but this Doris is a friend of the family kind of thing. She should be more up front.
 
sja36 – well I did not have a assistant before however since she has started working for me I have got accustomed to being able to sleep in on the weekends and not have to run around doing errands. In short it would be difficult for me without someone to replace her.

malc30 yes that’s the point I just feel that I deserve a bit of loyalty. My engineers have crap jobs but they very good.

Hashcake – she has been doing an ok job, nothing exceptional but not bad. She will get better with time. I do like that she is very honest in that she will not steal from that company. They offered the same money but an extra 5 days holiday per year. Thanks for your thoughts.

Rotty lol well she weighs in at 45kgs above me so I think not lol

Arcade Fire, that sounds to be quite reasonable. I will definitely give her a few days and see if she even says anything.

going to bed now :D
 
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Your business not a charity...

If she's done that without telling you, then that is slightly unreasonable, I certainly would be considering how much of a reference she got... instead of a great one, lukewarm might be better.

As far as pay, if she's on above the local average, she ought to be happy. Good on ya for giving her the chance though. And for working conditions, every company i know with a PA, the PA does the in company job, and the MD type person gets to spend days out of office...
 
I’ve read this a couple of times and it doesn’t make a lot of sense (or any for that matter).


Ill start off with this

Would I be wrong to dismiss her? I know the MD of the company that offered her the job and could have it retracted however I don’t feel that would be fair.
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So let me get this straight you want to fire her from the job she's got right now and THEN stop her from getting the new job, I sorry but that sounds VERY petty.

So knowing it was a bad idea I employed to in my company as my assistant.
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Bravo, so because of your mistake you are about to take it out on her.

I know its only January but I think we have a winner for Boss of the Year right here.


Am I wrong in feeling a little unhappy with this?
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I would say you are over reacting but that just doesn’t seem to cover it for me.


You don’t own your employee's and they can look for a new when they want. !






At the end of the day you should be glad that you help out a very good friend when she was in need and be happy that she is moving on with her life and not continuing to rely on the charity of others (or you), I think it would say even less about her if she continued to take advantage of you that way

She may feel that this was a temporary job offered to her in a time of need by a good friend and thinks it is time that she moved on and stop relying on your good will.
 
Sorry but to even think about sacking an employee just because they went for a job interview without telling you is not only quite pathetic but I'm pretty sure its illegal too. If you are that kind of person I am not surprised she wants to get out.

It does sound like your giving her one though, which might complicate matters :p
 
"Invoicing" - can you elaborate on this a bit more? I can't blame anyone for wanting to progress their career. What sort of advancement prospects does she have if she stays with you?
 
XPE- I was not saying that I would dismiss her and get the other job offer retracted. That’s just mean

MasterMike –I really think it would be a boring 9 to 5 job, with no prospects.

Anyway I think I was just a little disappointed and frustrated last night due to the amount of time I had spent training her. In the light of day she was just looking out for herself and that’s what anyone would do.
If she approaches me about this im going to tell her to take the job if she thinks it’s better for her in the long run and there will be no hard feelings.
 
Paras said:
XPE- I was not saying that I would dismiss her and get the other job offer retracted. That’s just mean

MasterMike –I really think it would be a boring 9 to 5 job, with no prospects.

Anyway I think I was just a little disappointed and frustrated last night due to the amount of time I had spent training her. In the light of day she was just looking out for herself and that’s what anyone would do.
If she approaches me about this im going to tell her to take the job if she thinks it’s better for her in the long run and there will be no hard feelings.
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^ real man.
 
I took yet another view; I thought that given the fact that she only has to be available on the 'phone she was taking the other job and remaining available on the 'phone for your employment...... Just goes to show, how many interpretations of one post there can be (or how dumb I am :eek: )
 
singist said:
I took yet another view; I thought that given the fact that she only has to be available on the 'phone she was taking the other job and remaining available on the 'phone for your employment...... Just goes to show, how many interpretations of one post there can be (or how dumb I am :eek: )
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Ah no I should have been clearer; she does have other responsibilities other than just answering my phone calls. Its not possible to have a second job
 
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