Am I making too much of this?

[geminigirl]

I work for two CEOs.  About 18 months ago, I was told that they were going to be looking for another CEO and they were going to be taking a step back from day to day business but would remain on board as co-chairmen.  I was told this, privately, at the time but managers were informed the day before and I learned it about half an hour before it was general knowledge via email around the company.  I was told at the time that it wouldn’t make any difference to me as they saw me as PA to them as individuals rather than to the role.

About 8 months ago, we appointed a new COO and I asked my two bosses if I would now be reporting to and working for this guy.  They responded that they hadn’t asked him what his requirements were and would get back to me.  Anyway, needless to say, they didn’t.

Then, day before yesterday, the first day back at work for the New Year a general email went out to the whole company (at 5.15pm) to say that COO was to become CEO.  And this was the first I’d heard about it.  After 3½ years as their PA, I thought I should have been extended a professional (at least) courtesy and have been told before it was general knowledge.

They were both out yesterday and not in today yet so I sent an email to them and asked for clarification of what this meant to me.  I also told them that I was hurt, both personally and professionally, to have learned of this new development by general email.

Am I overreacting?

[gee4]

Gemini,  I hear ya and do sympathise.  However I have learnt over the years that you are in fact just another employee and sometimes you are not given privileged information for fear of others hearing about it.  We all know PA's are privvy to some inside information from time to time but just imagine if you were another employee on the shop floor or in the canteen ... would you really be required to know what was happening before anyone else?  Probably not, which is why we sometimes expect more as PA's.  On this occasion I'd let it go...the decision was made which the company thought was for the best.  At the end of the day you are there to perform a job unless told otherwise.

G

[countrigal]

I think that I wouldn't take it too personally if I were you.  In the first part of your post you stated that what you were told privately was known to managers before you and spread through the company via e-mail before it was general knowledge, so it sounds to me like some folks can't keep confidential information confidential.  Since all that slipped out at the beginning, your folks might have been trying to keep if from occurring again, hence the no communication about it until it went to everyone.  Would it have been nice if they had shared it with you?  Yes.  Even if simply by telling you at 5:14pm, before hitting "send" on the e-mail.  But they didn't, and that is their right.  I think I'd be more likely to take it very personally if I found out that all the managers were informed before the e-mail and that I hadn't.  If everyone who reports directly to your bossie's had known about it in advance and they had not shared it with you, then that would be something to be disgruntled about, since you are all basically on the same level.  But always remember that they have the right to tell anyone however they want to.  And they may have made a mistake in their decision not to tell you in advance.  They are human and may have overlooked it, or not thought it was a big deal.  I would definitely be careful about keeping the personal feelings out of it.  Professionally, as their AA, it would have been beneficial for you to know this before the e-mail went out so that you could get clarification on certain items before folks start calling and asking questions which you don't have answers for or aren't even aware of what can or can not be shared.  In this way it may have made things smoother for them, with them fielding fewer calls or stopping to explain things again and again or to you as they crop up.  But they made the decision and now you just figure out how it affects you and press on.  I don't think it should be a major issue just because they didn't tell you in advance.  You're an employee, and were informed at the same time all other employees were, so deal with it.  Rise above the hurt feelings and continue with your professional job.  And it sounds like this is what you're trying to do...

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[geminigirl]

Hi CG

Sorry if I didn't make myself clear originally - the information I was originally told privately was made general knowledge *by the board* 30 minutes after I was told - it wasn't leaked by anyone.


I understand that it's their right to withhold any information etc but I don't feel as if I'm shown any respect or consideration by them at all, in anything.

Grr.  Rant over.  But I just wanted to make it clear that the original information wasn't spread by gossip - it was official notification by email to the company as a whole (as was this latest bulletin).

I do appreciate both your and Gee's comments, though!




Edited at poster's request.

Edited by countrigal on 05/01/06 04:34 PM.

[dettu]

I agree with the majority here...while I do hate the way a PA is kept in the dark, nonetheless, we are. We are not "one of them" (management), no matter how much we view ourselves as integral to the team. Best to just let it go.

[msmarieh]

This is one I would probably have handled in person, rather than via email.

Having had similar events happen to me in the past, I have gone in immediately after the announcement and said, OK, exactly how is this impacting my position? It affects me more directly than general employees and I need to know in order to do my job.

I wouldn't take offense at it though. Perhaps you have given off "vibes" that you don't trust the COO and they didn't want to tell you. Who knows?

However, that tea lady comment would have made me stop in my tracks! I would have had a private meeting immediately thereafter with the individual that made the comment and I can guarantee you they never would have made a similar one again!!!! (And I speak from experience on this).

Marie

[geminigirl]

MsMarieh

You wouldn't believe the people I work for!  They have never worked for anyone but themselves and really don't have a clue how to treat people.  And yet, they are perfectly charming socially.  

The tea lady comment - he meant it as a joke but given that he had once said to me that there was only so many cups of tea one could make in a day when I asked for more responsibilities / work to do ... well, just summed up how I think he, in particular, regards me.

As for handling it in person, yes, I would much prefer that but that's not the way they work ... they are much more comfortable handling things via email.  I would have got a "Not now" had I asked about this immediately after the general notice went out.

[spitfire78]

Waaa - somehow after typing this long post I think I deleted it!  Here's hoping it doesn't end up on here twice!!!!

One thing we must remember is that we are ALWAYS entitled to our personal feelings.  We also must remember to separate personal feelings from business relationships.

I worked for this boss for about 13 years.  We had a really good relationship, and he knew he could trust me implicitly.  He accepted a higher-up position which took him out of my secretarial responsibilities.  How did I find out about this?  When I returned from a week's vacation and was told by my coworker that he was no longer my responsibility because he now had this other job!  Was I hurt by this - you bet.  He certainly knew that he could tell me about it in confidence with no worries about it leaking out.  Even if he had told me about it as I was walking out the door on my way to vacation - I would have felt fine with that.  But instead he simply chose the no communication at all route.  I was very hurt over it for a long time (truth be told - it still grates a little and this was about 9-10 years ago!).  But I never said anything about it to him or to anyone else here - just kept doing my job efficiently as ever and smiled through it.  Although I was hurt personally, it didn't hurt me professionally since it actually meant less work for me at the time, not more.  So, I chose to say nothing.  We still have a good relationship - I do occasional ordering for him and he still gives me a gift every year at Christmas.  

That's how I chose to handle my situation, and I feel it worked for me.