How do you tell your boss that you are NOT a servant?

Question

Im the head Sales Coordinator for a family owned advertising company....well one of the managers pretty much treats me as a servant in a way. I mean he has a paper shredder next to his desk yet still calls me from the opposite side of the room to shred papers for him! Same thing with the fax machine he has a fax machine 3 feet in front of him yet can't fax his own damn papers. Oh and when I called out sick he threw a fit because he had no one to basically tie his shoes for him if you know what I mean. What is a good way to tell him that I am not a servant?

Answer 1

Step one, look around, be aware of what opportunities are out there for you, maybe even have a job offer in hand before you approach him. Have a back-up plan.

Step two, a few "more friendly" approaches first...Next time he asks you to do something, offer to teach him how to fax or copy or whatever (he already knows, but this MIGHT drop a hint to him). You could also use humor, esp. regarding the shredder, like make a sarcastic joke but smile, "what, you're afraid of chopping your fingers off or something?"

Step three, if those don't work ask to sit down with him. Tell him you feel like you are not able to do the job you were hired for effectively because of his demands on you. Ask if it's possible budget-wise to hire him an assistant. Stress that he may need help, an assistant, but that you don't have the time to do it with your duties. If he screams, gets ticked off, threatens you, you can tell him you are considering leaving so your professional skills can be better used elsewhere - if you really are his right-hand person, he won't want to lose you suddenly. He'll need you to train the new person and hopefully you'll be back at YOUR desk.

Answer 2

I was pretty much in this position as well. It took me a while to strategize how I was going to tell my boss that I was not his secretary (slave). Over time, I built great working relationships with his superiors, and that worked to my advantage. When I refused to do something and my boss called me out (with a closed door meeting), I told him "there's the door...do you want me to walk through it?" He buckled and said no, and I ended up getting a promotion (and someone else shredded the papers). It took a lot of courage to do this, and I know not everyone gets this lucky, but if your work speaks for itself, I would gather the supporting data in the event you decide to confront the situation head on. This will give you some leverage.

The difficulty in your environment is that the business is "family owned" (private). In this situation, mostly it is their way or the highway. Being polite and professional when confronting situations does not always work, however, it is the way to go.

If you do not feel like directly confronting the situation, I would see about quietly securing another job elsewhere. I did that in my situation, and once management found out through the grapevine, they asked me to stay (although I actually took time off to work at that job)...

This is just my advice...I've been at my company for ten years and have moved up the ladder consistently. Sometimes it takes a while for people to realize you are not a slave, but a human being! Best Wishes!

Answer 3

I guess I have never been unhappy doing those little things, for I received the same amount of pay for what ever I did on the job...

I assumed I WAS A SERVANT when I worked for anyone else due to the fact that I went TO THEM and worked for money.

Being my own boss, I have to do it all for myself now for I have no employees to boss around...sort of a bummer but at least in all my previous jobs I received enough experience in all areas to take care of myself now !

Perhaps you are just unhappy with your job or this particular person is bugging for some other reason. Perhaps he is a man who just enjoys another person in the room which is why he calls on you to do such meaningless things! I would feel happy that I was needed !! : ) Smile through it and you will be fine! Nice to get if off your chest huh?

Answer 4

I am not sure if you have one on one meetings with him, if you do then use the opportunity to impress upon on him your skills that you will can contribute more towards the organization, his department growth including himself. I would also pursue other opportunitities or if you have open door policy speak to his supervisor about your concerns. Bottom line is just don't do things because you are asked to do and is not part of your job responsibilities. At the same time, draw a line, no job is small and be open to doing things if need be, like shredding a paper. Just make sure it doesn't go over board.

Answer 5

It sounds to me as though he is stuck in the middle ages where a woman was a servant. You could do one of two things. One ask him if he knows what color you are and two is there any one "higher up" you could talk to and if there is ask for an office meeting 101. That is how to use a paper shredder and fax machine.
Banana

Answer 6

i'm an artist and at one time labored for a sequence development corporation. I had 3 artwork directors, which drove me loopy. the 1st one might are available and say that they needed Swiss sort mountains. After working ten hours on development the Swiss alps, artwork director #2 might stroll in and say, no no no we'd like Grand canyon style of rocks jutting out from the earth! So, lower back we'd artwork over the years and double time and make barren area rocky mountains pushing up into the sky. day after on the instant artwork director #3 might are available and initiate up yelling how none human beings would desire to take instructions for sure. He might insist that it became for sure understood that they needed The California Rockies. via that component the time shrink became up in approximately 3 or 4 extra hours earlier they might start up filming and we had to scramble to re do each and every little thing. Then the shopper might are available and say, no, i wanted Swiss Alps. And so as that's what happens once you have extra desirable than one boss.

Answer 7

tell him to ease up a little hes a grown man and he cant depend on you all the time just tell him how you feel and if he doesnt like it then i guess you are better off somewhere else because thats pretty stupid if he has to call you for simple things like this

Answer 8

sounds like you are not happy with your job. your job is to do what your boss asks you to do. If there is a conflict you are having with that, it might be time to look for a new job.

Answer 9

praise the lord & don't shred the papers

Answer 10

He's your boss, so you ARE his servant. That's what you get paid for. Sad but true.