|
|
| *Ostroff, Fair and Company>>>Administrative and Office Support |
Administrative Assisants / Secretaries....? |
I'm an administrative assistant / computer tech / permit clerk for an HVAC contractor in Texas. My employer provides everyone a 1 hour unpaid lunch break. I work in a small office and have no one to fill-in while I'm at lunch. Because of that I continue answering the phones and handling deliveries as well as front counter activity during my lunch break. The in-charge designer (filled in while my boss/office manager was out on vacation) told me that the company VP said that I am not to be doing anything work related on my lunch break. This complicates things because, like I said, there is noone to fill-in. ...so if I go by the VP's instructions...the phones go unanswered (angry clients), front counter is unattended (walk-ins receive no help), etc. ...so how does your employer handle this situation? I see you gave yourself a nice high N mighty title there. In reality you are nothing more than a whiny little secretary. People like you piss me off. You spend all your time goofing off on Answers yet you have the NERVE to whine about not being able to take a lunch break. IMO, you don't deserve take a lunch break. I think your boss should fire your sorry @ss. If you worked for my boss you would have been fired. FYI...a secretary can not be a computer tech because they do not have that kind of knowledge. This is not your problem. If they want the phones answered while you are at lunch, they should arrange for it. Go to lunch and not worry about it... they will see what you are talking about... You are entitled to an uninterrupted lunch break. Put the answer phone / voice mail on and go. Even if there is no voice mail, take your lunch anyway. It would be best if you leave the building during your lunch break, so you cant get drawn into things. Dont let the boss bully you into working. It is his problem not yours. You're putting your employer at risk by continuing to work during your lunch, and could actually end up losing your job. They're not providing you with a lunch break because they're being nice, they're required by federal law to do so. If you're worried about leaving the phones unanswered, suggest to your boss that you take 1/2 hour lunch (the minimum required by law) and revise your company's phone message to indicate that the office will be closed during that time. That is assuming they'll allow you to leave 1/2 hour earlier or pay you 2 1/2 hours of overtime each week. If they still want you to take the full hour, then just update your voicemail to indicate the office is closed during the lunch hour. If customers know not to expect anyone to answer the phone during a specific time frame, they won't be angry about it. Let the employer handle it not you. Take your lunch. Leave the office They can figure it out. You do need to take a lunch break. You can put a sign on the door saying closed for lunch. Take a 1/2 hour. Revise the voicemail, etc. Why is the boss/office manger not handling the place for a half hour while you go to lunch. Even if you just take a walk, eat a quick sandwich and go back to work. This is not your problem. You are being taken advantage of by the boss/office manager. When that person comes back from vacation, you can ask how they want to work out the lunch break and discuss what time you will be taking yours. I would take the whole hour as the office manager's job is to make sure the office is running smoothly and being managed well. Obviously, they are lacking at their job as you have been overly gracious and dedicated to your job. |
| Tags |
| Law & Legal Health Care Government & Non-Profit Food Service Financial Services Administrative and Office Support Other - Advertising & Marketing Search Engine Optimization |
Finance Categories--Copyright/IP Policy--Contact Webmaster |