My boss' wife......?

Question

I'll call my boss Andrew, for anonymity.

I do a lot of temporary work and sometimes go back to the same placement (as I get asked to go back by the permanent secretary). My boss' wife came into the office one day (never met her before) and I greeted her and shook her hand. The first 2 things she said were, "You know that Andrew is very pleased with his permanent secretary". And so I just shook it off and thought nothing of it, as I couldn't really care less, as I love temping. The next thing she said was, "Don't you ever get asked to leave, if you do something wrong?" I just said, "No".

Andrew's permanent secretary does ask me back, when she takes leave, so why did his wife say these things to me?

Answer 1

I'm guessing you're young and pretty, and the wife and the secretary aren't :)

Answer 2

Part of the beauty of doing temporary work is that you can see for your self if you would like to work full time at an organization. Obviously this woman is not someone you would want to be around on a permanent basis.

I would take this issue up with your temp agency. Let them know what is going on there. Tell them you like the permanent secretary, you like the boss, but that the bosses wife has insulted and just tell them what you told us. You can say that you like being at the assignment (if you still do) but that this woman is cause for concern. If you don't want the assignment anymore, just tell them why. Leave it to them to decide if they should just find another assignment for you or speak to boss about putting his wife in check. This way, if the bosses wife makes a stink about you at least you will be covered. It is highly likely that you will not be the first or the last to complain about this woman. Their are some bosses that go through strings of people. Every temp agency all over town knows about them.

Continue to do your assignment with the utmost integrity.

Answer 3

properly, your boss is going to make certain or maybe as he does, that isn't any longer going to be tremendously. I advise that you bypass on and get yet another interest....in basic terms get as some distance away as plausible from this mess you've created. Come on brother, why might want to you intervene with a wedding ceremony. there's a mess of chicks available waiting for you. :-0 good success!

Answer 4

Maybe the wife feels threatened by you (physical appearance).

Then again, maybe "Andrew" has had an extra-marital affair with a temp before.

Either way, you only answer to the permanent secretary and "Andrew," not his catty wife.

Answer 5

she sounds like a be hatch...... if you had made an error there i'm sure someone would have told you or at least discussed it with you on your return. otherwise they just wouldn't ask you back to work there. sounds like andrew's wife thinks you're pretty and might tempt her hubby away from her..... if you meet her again and she says something mean, smile and sweetly ask her if you can help her in anyway or if there is something important that she needs to talk to you about.... she'll either be dumbfounded and speechless or will tell you whatever the heck is on her mind. either way you'll be letting her know that your work is absolutely nothing to do with her. and as she walks away, make yourself feel better by squishing her head between your finger and thumb.... as satisfying as sticking out your tongue at her behind her back, but no-one will see you do it or know what your at!!!! ha ha!

Answer 6

Sounds like she feels threatened by you. She may be going through the menopause and sees any younger woman as a threat or he may have had an affair with a temp before. I am assuming that you aren't interested in your boss

You should try to reassure her that you are not interested in your boss by bigging up your BF (if you have one or invent one if you don't) or by talking about what you are doing with friends to show that you have a life outside work that takes up all your time.

Try dressing really smart but covered up - wear trousers instead of skirts and a jacket instead of just a blouse.

Look ultra professional and try to talk to her to reassure her that you aren't a threat in any way

Answer 7

It's wrong but it happens. Relatives of business executives or owners show up at the job and try to throw around a little weight because of their "connections" even though they are not part of the organization. The only recourse you have is to report it and hope it's taken the right way.

Answer 8

She's obviously a very insecure person as most boss's wives are especially if their pa/ secretaries are pretty.

I wouldn't say anything or try to justify yourself to her, it has nothing to do with her. Just smile and keep your mouth shut when she next comes in, that'll wind her up more!

Answer 9

We can never know why another person says something. It could be as simple as she does not want you to get your hopes up.
As far as the asked to leave, that is mad. You are apparently competent, so her presumption that you would make large mistakes raises the question as to what her motivations were.
Others have offered suggestions, but I say none of us can know. Maybe she's simply one of those who likes to make others uncomfortable.
--That Cheeky Lad

Answer 10

she's jealous. i would speak to the permanent secretary, and ask her if she has had problems with the boss' wife?