to ask "what about me? Will I still have a job?" and be freaked out as to what the answer might be?

[JobNoMore]

Name changed!

I work for a medium sized company and I run the boss's office. He is Chief Exec and I am his assistant. I report into him alone. He is about to leave under unusual circumstances. No one else in the company knows about this, apart from me.

So, what happens to me when he goes? Who do I work for? Will I still have a job? I am crapping my pants just a bit, as I have no idea what will happen. Could I be made redundant?

Anyone with any HR or employment law knowledge offer any thoughts?

I've worked in these kind of roles and this has happened to me on occasion - it's very stressful when your boss leaves under normal circumstances (retirement or promotion) but yours sounds to be unusual and possibly contentious.

In one situation, where my boss left quickly, no one said anything to me for three months! I just kept coming in - her replacement had his own PA and I tried to find bits of pieces of work to keep me going. I think they expected that I'd get bored and leave but it was at the time of the crash and there were no other jobs. Eventually HR asked if I'd be interested in another roll on the same salary which i took.

In another situation, my boss retired and her replacement was awful! Compulsive liar, hated me on site, lied about me, tried to get me fired (fortunately she wasn't the cleverest and I had enough evidence to show that she was making stuff up about me). I waited it out through humiliation (she demoted me to data entry clerk) as I knew voluntary redundancies were coming up soon and I left then. But otherwise I would have made a formal complaint.

In my current job, my former boss was sidelined and I've been moved to another person at the same level - it was awkward as they wanted me to go to a dept that wouldn't have suited me but I pushed back and got the role I wanted. But I was lucky in that there were options. I was prepared to leave if I didn't get the role I thought I was best suited too - easier to to that in improved economy.

Advice wise, don't panic! But don't presume anyone will tell you anything either - they may just leave you sitting there, expecting you to leave. But they can't fire you - they may offer you a deal to leave, a couple of months salary, if they believe your loyalty was to him and they are trying to wipe the slate clean. Try not to take that personally if it's the case. Smile, shake their hands and take their cheque and move on.

Best of luck - it's so stressful because there's no one to share it with, other people don't get it. As a PA your role is tied up in your bosses and others won't understand that.

How long have you been with the company?

You need to be prepared for anything, the chances are that they would a complete fresh sweep - but then they need to give you a compromise agreement or such. Though technically with hi gone, your job has gone so there is probably grounds for redundancy.

In the meantime, this could be your chance, you know what needs to be done and when. You could be in a position to try and manage the chaos. Support the person who is coming is to sort out the issues. Come up with a schedule of tasks the Chief Exec did - become indispensable.

Also get your CV up to date & start looking at what's out there.
Good luck

You’re wasting your time getting your contract changed. Plus it will be bloody obvious you knew this was coming.

What will happen, will happen.

Start job hunting. Your chances of being made redundant/managed out are high, but even if you’re not I imagine it will be awful working there once the shit hits the fan. Especially if whatever he’s done impacts other staff or patients/customers/investors etc.

You are right to be worried and you should start looking elsewhere. Many CEOs bring their PA from their previous job if location allows

How long have you been there, and are you in a Union? You have more rights if you have been there over 2 years. If you are not in a Unionised environment speak to ACAS. Technically you should just start working for the new CE, but he/she may want to bring in their own person - or may not want an assistant. That doesnt mean they can just get rid of you - if they chose to make the role redundant they would need to try and find you something else. If it was me I would still start looking around for new roles though..

Without saying exactly how many years I've been in my job, I'd be expensive to make redundant - which works in my favour.

I've dusted down my CV and references won't be a problem. I guess the fear is that I've been out of the job market for some time and I'm no spring chicken! I should go and talk to recruitment consultants.

Goes without saying that all my work is up to date!

Sometimes if they know you are expensive to make redundant they just make the working environment deeply unpleasant/tediously boring. Sitting at a desk in the corner alone all day with the minimum work load.

You're best placed to know how the office runs, why couldn't you make a play for promotion and stand in/take over?

I can only echo the good advice here and add. I agree about keeping a copy of any emails or instructions sent to you and try to protect yourself as much as possible from any fall out.
If this is going to kick off a big storm, which he might try to drag you into, consider getting some legal advice. It probably wouldn't cost too much for an initial consultation with an employment lawyer. but as others have said, get your CV in order and you might be able to get something more secure before the storm hits.
Would it be possible to ask HR for a transfer now? Even if its not 100 per cent suitable, you'd be away from the potential fall out and could job hunt from there. You could just say you feel like a change and more varied experience? I hope you find something.

And remember employers legally make the role redundant not the person, so they cant just get rid of you to slot someone else in. If you have sorted your CV, I agree speaking to agencies and recruitment consultants and looking at whats going on in your area of work is the thing to do. They cant discriminate on the basis of age either...

Sorry OP crossed posts. Good luck with your search

Thank you all. Feel less stressed having shared my angst and got some advice.

We've just had a similar situation where I work. Member of the board left under a cloud. There was a bit of a shuffle around and the 'spare' PA was moved to another member of the board.

If you have worked for this company for a number of years and have always done a great job and been professional I don't see why they would get rid of you. Good people are hard to find.

Hope it all goes ok. It must be very stressful for you.

OP - I was with my last company over 18 years, I knew I was being managed out - it was incredibly stressful at the time. They asked me to go on a special project. I knew when this was over that I probably didn't have a job. I worked to the best of my ability on the project and it came off. When it was completed I was made redundant. One of the external companies offered me a job, I left with over a years pay, took a weeks holiday (paid) and walked into another job on the same pay.

Sometimes great things happen in difficult situations.
Head down do your best, make a difference and see where it goes.
I have been at the new company nearly 2 years and it is great, work from home a few days a week. I am in my 50's.

You are going to be fine.

Thank you Whatnotea that is inspiring.

Like others have said, you work for the company, not this man, so from my understanding it couldn't be a case of he's out = you're out.

HOWEVER, it might be that they end up with too many PAs, so one or more PA roles is made redundant, and that could be yours.

It might be worth tightening up your CV and exploring other options. It can never hurt!

This is a great opportunity for you, you are one of the few people who know the inner workings of the company.