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

[checkthetraderplease]

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.

Ilikethisone - it’s what a PA is paid to do though. You just act on instructions, not do what you like. If you prefer to be in the driving seat, then you’re probably not suited to the job

@AccioCats yes I am aware.

On all my other posts I Express that you pp made a mistake. And that I totally understand why the other PA would be concerned and mention it. I believe the OP is wrong in what she did. For many

But it appears she now realises that and its been resolved. So no point still telling her she is wrong.

It's a mistake, move on. And remember that sometimes that you have to think about office politics and the impacts your actions have on it and the backlash that can have on you personally.

It is a pain to have to think like that. Op only saw that she was getting something she wanted AND saving the company money. She didnt think about the other implications.

She definitely should have just ordered as requested. She knows that now.

I gave up reading this thread half way through - it's just so frustrating. You've got the OP being shouted at for thinking of herself WHEN BUYING A PRESENT FOR HERSELF, and at the same time being told how important it is that staff get these rewards to make them feel valued.

This is just the shittiest performative 'staff recognition' I can imagine. Everyone gets an overpriced hamper whether they want one or not, the big boss's penis will fall off if the same bloody roses cost a tenner less, and if you don't want the overpriced hamper you're ungrateful.

Fuck's sake.

And they're splashing the cash on overpriced wasteful gestures, but I bet the cleaning staff are outsourced and on barely minimum wage.

I genuinely hope companies like this go under.

You should not have ordered yourself anything different from the others. You were in a position to take advantage and you did. Was anyone else afforded the opportunity to decide which hamper they preferred? It would turn into mayhem having to accommodate and present so many different types. Stick to the process. Apologise and hopefully it will be forgotten on this occasion.

The people I've worked for would understand that I chose a different hamper for myself. I'd go with lower price and that you're not a huge drinker. I don't drink a great deal; an occasional glass of white or sparkling wine. I'd be dismayed by a hamper full of booze so would prefer a non booze or low booze option. I'm more fascinated that you were told to only ask the Muslim guy if he wanted something different. I would have offered a non alcoholic option to all anyway. I suspect that you are taking on some of the more enjoyable aspects of the other PAs job so she's trying to wrong foot you by making a comment. If the MD takes everyone out for a meal and buys them a hamper I suspect he won't care much. You could mention it, or wait and see if he asks you about it.

Maybe it's not the cost but what's in it?

Did you order all of the hampers from Harrods? Maybe she's worried you have a better hamper than everyone else?

I don't think you crossed a line as such but I would just apologise, explain your thinking behind your choice and stick to the "rules" in future.

Next time you could always order the same and then take it back and exchange it ... no one would ever be the wiser.... I’m sure others do this every year....🤫

I have also just been on the Harrods website to see what you get for your money and there is no hamper for £80 with a teddy in it and no hampers for £120. Misses point of thread

I'm amazed at how many MNers casually tell OP to just lie about it and say that she chose that hamper as she's new and didn't feel eligible for the same as everyone else.

It's a fucking blatant lie, which would easily be outed by senior PA who knows the score.

Do you all resort to lying so easily in real life?

You should be embarrassed!

Curious....

In answer to your original question - I think you are being very very unreasonable to think you haven’t crossed a line here. You have made an unauthorised purchase using company funds - regardless of the fact you chose one that was £80 ‘saving the company money’ ask yourself this would you have used that £120 or the £80 that was actually used to buy yourself a new pair of boots or a nice top? If the answer was no of course not you are failing to see the relevance of the question - it doesn’t matter actually what you purchased for the £80 what matters is you made an unauthorised purchase and did not follow basic instruction and judging by your AIBU see nothing wrong in it

A slightly different hamper is hardly the same as boots or a top. Behave

Actually the contents of the hamper was very different from her description, but as it doesn’t seem to be on the Harrods website, who knows what she really bought?!

Honestly what a jumped up PA and your boss if they are going to berate you for that.

How ridiculous.

Being an employee doesn’t mean you have to put up with it. Totally ignore.

Why is it hardly the same?? It’s irrelevant what was chosen by OP the issue is she chose something different to the basic instruction something that was not authorised.

Being an employee doesn’t mean you have to put up with it. Totally ignore.

You don’t have to put up with being told you should follow instructions?

You don’t have to put up with a boss who expects you do do what you were asked to do?

You should not have ordered yourself anything different from the others. You were in a position to take advantage and you did. Was anyone else afforded the opportunity to decide which hamper they preferred? It would turn into mayhem having to accommodate and present so many different types. Stick to the process. Apologise and hopefully it will be forgotten on this occasion

This!

Job of a PA isn't to save the company money, it's to do as the person your working for has asked, so yes, you've overstepped

*you're 🤦🏼‍♀️

It's a bit cheeky. No one else got a choice and ordering an extra of the same thing is different from choosing what you want!

I’d be surprised if op can bring herself to look at this bloody bear again without screaming, after this onslaught.
Seems the MD is fine with it, it’s an insecure senior PA sensing that op is snapping at his / her heels and determined to stamp her down.

OP likes the other PA:

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

I understand why the op had the email message deleted, but can @checkthetraderplease or anyone summarise what it said please?

We try and be quiet about it so not to offend most of the other staff who wouldn't have got one

Completely off track, but this seems harsh that an employee of 8 weeks gets an anniversary hamper but most of the other staff get jack shit! Hope they’re not reading this!!

Today 20:58 Dizzywizz

‘I understand why the op had the email message deleted, but can @checkthetraderplease or anyone summarise what it said please?’

There was basically a lot of gushing about how amazing she was at her job and that the company was in safe hands with her as PA!! Then laughing off the hamper incident and telling her she could buy whatever she wanted next time

Complete opposite of the reaction the MD had about the roses incident.