The other PAs and I got an annoying boss-emails today. You know, the kind that starts with, “Just a reminder…”, and then goes on to re-explain all the basic PA duties that you already do.
This kind of note always fills me with a combination of fear and annoyance. Why is he reminding me to clean up the kitchen after lunch? I already did that. Am I not doing it fast enough? Thoroughly enough? What’s the problem?
Or is it an email meant for one of the other guys? I mean, I was gone during lunch yesterday. If the kitchen wasn’t cleaned up, it wasn’t my fault. I was on the 405.
I think it comes from a desire to not pick on any one PA. I appreciate the sentiment, but I hate being made to feel like I’ve done something wrong when I haven’t.
5 Responses
Ugh, I absolutely hate it when people do that! Try to spare the person causing the problem by calling out everyone. It makes you feel like shit when you haven’t done anything wrong!
Don’t feel too bad. I’m a best boy grip and I got one of those today regarding the “standard procedure” on how to order additional equipment for each episode. The best boy electric got one too. We simply enjoy practicing our paper airplane talents!
On the other hand, I can’t think of too many occasions where there wasn’t something that was my fault.
😀
Great post. You’ve hit this one on the hand. The boss doesn’t want to call in the person who did it, or is too high up to actually even have a clue who did it. They just know that they’ve noticed 2-3 PA duties getting sloppy, and whamo, email. How far up the chain did this come?
My rule with this is your direct boss should know what you’re doing, and should talk to the individual directly. The higher ups should work with your boss.
It can also mean that something was done, or not done, at the boss doesn’t know who did or did not do the deed.