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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think I didn't cross the line? Work related

215 replies

checkthetraderplease · 02/09/2019 12:30

I'm a PA for a relatively medium sized company. I've been in the job about 8 weeks now.

Every year when the company celebrates another anniversary of starting, the MD takes everyone for a lunch, drinks, and we finish by 4pm.

In addition to this, the 'significant' staff get a Harrod's hamper. The task was given to me. Most people got one costing £120, the bigger fish got one for £400.

I was given the task to order them, not the 'number one' PA. I was hired so he could be more hands off with general PA work and accompany the MD more.

Anyway, I was told by the MD that I certainly MUST order myself one (I was not on the usual list).

I did... Except the one I ordered was different. It was £80 and I got it because it had a Harrod's teddy. DS got one when he was born so I thought it'd be nice to have another teddy for him.

Long story short, the number one PA said I really shouldn't have done that as he MD would've wanted the whole £120 spent and he might be quite surprised.

I've no idea what the big issue is (I saved him some money), and the number one PA said it just doesn't work like that.

MD is only holiday for two weeks now so it can't be brought up.

AIBU to think this is a bit silly and I didn't cross and lines? This PA seems very shocked at my behaviour. The MD didn't specify a specific one to order myself. He just said the money he wanted spent on each person.

I have an otherwise really good relationship with the other PA. He is an extremely nice man and very good at his job.

OP posts:
checkthetraderplease · 02/09/2019 19:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HeadintheiClouds · 02/09/2019 20:01

Ordering a teddy in your hamper because you don’t like cheese is nowhere near comparable to free styling the new phone system!
Jesus Christ, will you stop it.
Bet you wish you hadn’t asked, op.

HeadintheiClouds · 02/09/2019 20:02

Ah, great update 👍!! As if a senior professional would throw his toys out of the pram over a teddy!

Original poster
checkthetraderplease · 02/09/2019 20:02

Head You're right!

Although I do understand I was a bit off and out of line. But I don't deserve to be called so untrustworthy or 'it was a test and you failed' Hmm

OP posts:
CloudsCanLookLikeSheep · 02/09/2019 20:03

Have you seriously just posted a private message from your boss up on mumsnet? I know you've redacted names, but if anyone from your company reads this thread and recognises it (and you've given away quite a few details so that wouldn't be hard) then I would be getting worried. You've only been there 8 weeks OP, 2 years until full employment rights kick in.

LaurieMarlow · 02/09/2019 20:08

I don’t think you should be posting emails from your boss on here OP.

AccioCats · 02/09/2019 20:09

Hopefullly she’s just made the email up!
I know that’s a pretty pathetic and weird thing to do, for strangers on the internet. But not as fucking mental as posting a genuine one from your boss

pudcat · 02/09/2019 20:11

I think you need to get this post removed because if the Daily Fail gets hold of it you will no longer have a job or teddy hamper.

sonjadog · 02/09/2019 20:16

I´m not sure you should post email from your boss on MN... But otherwise, I am glad it was okay!

fascicle · 02/09/2019 20:20

AccioCats
To try to suggest that her not being on the list ‘created ambiguity’ which therefore justifies her in going and buying herself and her son something different to the instructed gifts is beyond ridiculous.

Very odd to argue a lack of ambiguity, when there clearly was for the OP who subsequently said she was mortified.

Hopefullly she’s just made the email up!
I know that’s a pretty pathetic and weird thing to do, for strangers on the internet. But not as fucking mental as posting a genuine one from your boss

Odd and slightly wild reaction to OP's update (which showed that your assessment of the situation was way off the mark).

Glad that OP's situation was not an issue in the end (but would agree it might be best to get the e-mail deleted).

NatashaAlianovaRomanova · 02/09/2019 20:26

Why will accounts payable know it was op that got the unique hamper? The bill won’t be addressed to her...

It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out - when I worked in accounts payable it's the sort of thing I'd have had to query before passing the invoice for payment, especially if there's a purchase order which states 24 x £120 hampers... & the invoice is for 23 x £120 hampers & 1 x £80 hamper

AccioCats · 02/09/2019 20:31

Fascicle do stop being ridiculous.
OP wasn’t on the usual list
List specified 2 gift hampers
MD told her to include herself

Why on Earth would anyone interpret that as ‘go and buy yourself something totally different’?

Grin at the ‘wild’ (?) reaction to the email she posted. I said I hoped she might have made it up because bizarre though that would be, it’s a better option than having genuinely posted an email from her boss

HeadintheiClouds · 02/09/2019 20:37

Why, Natasha? You have to check that all invoices matched the delivery note and it was correctly authorised and signed for. Who they were then dispensed to is none of accounts payable’s business.

NatashaAlianovaRomanova · 02/09/2019 20:51

Head because I'd have to match the purchase order, delivery note & invoice.

I'd been in the job long enough to realise that there may be a discrepancy with one item being different even without the purchase order though so I'd most likely query that it was indeed correct before authorising payment - given that the OP's MD was such a stickler about the flowers thing I'm betting their accounts payable are on the ball for anything which may seem inconsistent!

9ofpentangles · 02/09/2019 21:13

My understanding is op posted the email in sheer frustration in not being listened to and believed with regards to her intentions

The only thing that's mental is the fact that she was driven to it. Perhaps everyone can shut up now. It's resolved, op has learnt from it and it's now a non issue

Whoopstheregomyinsides · 02/09/2019 21:13

It’s all about finding out the lay of the land and if going off piste is ok or not. Ordering flowers at £90 if getting roses and using an approved source is ok then I’d say fine. Choosing your own gift, not so much, regardless of the cost. There will be others who’d rather have had the same. Back to
the good deeds not going unpunished but sadly true of many people. Suss it out before going off piste.

AccioCats · 02/09/2019 21:16

I liked how she wanted us to know the company is in ‘safe hands’ with her as a PA!

9ofpentangles · 02/09/2019 21:17

Rather than a screenshot of her p45. Aibu would love that

LaurieMarlow · 02/09/2019 21:20

My understanding is op posted the email in sheer frustration in not being listened to and believed with regards to her intentions

If that’s the case, it was a damn stupid move.

Who gives a shit what a bunch of internet randoms are saying?

But what would her boss think to find his private email plastered on here?

OP, get MN to delete it.

9ofpentangles · 02/09/2019 21:22

I agree but she did have 7 pages of crap hurled at her. I do think it's time to delete. Hardly any posts actually contribute anything constructive

AccioCats · 02/09/2019 21:25

There was quite a bit of constructive advice actually. Mostly along the lines of ‘just carry out what you’re instructed to do.’

LaurieMarlow · 02/09/2019 21:25

I agree but she did have 7 pages of crap hurled at her.

I disagree, most of it was sensible. Her boss seems v laid back but plenty would have a different view.

9ofpentangles · 02/09/2019 21:28

Well, I think she's got the point now

Ilikethisone · 02/09/2019 21:34

OP its not the end of the world. Best laid plans and all that.

Just use it as a learning opportunity.

Some work places do have people who get annoyed about stuff like this. The ln they moan and makes things a pain.

Its pain having to think like that. But that's what work can be like sometimes.

fascicle · 02/09/2019 21:35

AccioCats
You persist in peddling your interpretation of the event and its magnitude, even though It is clear from the outcome that it was incorrect. And she didn't buy something completely different - just a lower value hamper.

grin at the ‘wild’ (?) reaction to the email she posted. I said I hoped she might have made it up because bizarre though that would be it’s a better option than having genuinely posted an email from her boss^

The 'slightly wild' was largely a reference to the delivery of your post at 20:09 - nothing like your calmer rephrasing above.

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