Background: I have worked part time (10 hours per week) in the office of a community centre since 2005. I am employed by the management Committee (approx 8-9 people at any one time) who do their role on a voluntary basis. I have never had any complaints about my work and just got a pay rise again this January. Part of my work involves taking room bookings (and the associated admin). People can book via text, phone, email or via the website. Although I am only present in the office 10 hours a week, I have always taken bookings outside office hours and when I am on holiday etc etc as it is a simple procedure involving only a text or email. One of the Committee members (who was not on the Committee when I was originally employed) has often tried to undermine me in the past in small ways but these have just blown over in the past, sometimes I have had to complain to the Chair who has supported me 100%. Anyway, this member rang the office today and asked for a concept called Virtual PA to be discussed at our next meeting- I googled it afterwards and it appears to be employing a company to do my job - am I being too sensitive or am I being undermined and forced out? The reason given was that elderly people would not like to leave a phone message, text or email for enquiries.
In my defence, I know this business inside out and have very good working relationships with all our associated agencies from the local authority to our insurers, so from my very basic Google I cannot see how introducing a third party will be beneficial as not all enquiries are to do with bookings and also, I maintain the bookings diary so I could see the possibility of double bookings if a third party is operating independently.
does anyone have any experience of Virtual PA?