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.

Has it occurred to you that they might be trying to tell you that they think you're just as valuable to them after a few weeks in the job as somebody who has been there from the start?

Think of it as somebody turning down a fifty quid meal when it's your birthday and saying 'oh no, don't spend that much on little old me, I'm not worth it, I'll just sit here and nibble on a Sainsburys chicken sandwich that's been reduced to clear whilst you all enjoy your chateaubriand and bollinger'. You wouldn't be angry that they have insulted your absolute control, you'd be sad that they didn't value themselves as highly as you did.

They think you're worth it.

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

What a strange turnaround.

The email was very odd.

The email was a bit of ‘corporate cringe’ to be honest. It was a bit OTT. Be careful OP because he may still be a bit annoyed/marked your card sort of thing, it’s just corporate speak to react like that. I can’t remember it word for word but ‘i can’t stop laughing about X’ could both be polite and have a double meaning.

Sort of like when people start of a confrontation with ‘just find it funny that...’

The email was very odd

Agreed

Thanks @AccioCats

I think there was a distinct possibility the OP made the email up. If so she over egged the pudding a tad, as to how much the boss reaaaallly didn't mind her ordering her own hamper and how hilariously funny the whole thing was.

I think there was a distinct possibility the OP made the email up.

I didn’t like to say it at the time as it seemed mean, but it did not sound like the email a MD would send to a new PA.

I guess the culture there could be super friendly? Maybe?

It was also interesting that the mail neatly covered off all the points raised on this thread.

Yes, she got carried away with the gushing!

Hmm I didn't read the email but it seems quite odd for the PA to believe it was a problem (despite op getting on very well with him) and his boss thinking it was such a small issue, and then concerned the other PA had, had a word he sent such an over the top email.

Rumbled OP!

Gis a job!

The email could not have been more fictional but tbf I'm not sure the whole scenario is real anymore based on the fact that the teddy bear hamper at Harrods doesn't exist

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

Ha! Brilliant.

That's obviously exactly what happened.