Letting the Side Down

I've been at my new job for almost a month now and it's definitely been interesting. Although my working hours are short, the day is jammed pack from start to finish. There was no handover as such and I was just thrown in the deep end. However, I am slowly picking things up although there is still so much to learn as I'm in a completely new area.

My boss is from the same part of the world as me. She is very knowledgeable and down to earth, although much more reserved than I am. She is direct and respected by people who work for and with her. I consider myself lucky and hope that I'll remain her PA for the foreseeable future.

For the most part, the other PAs are also very nice. They have all been very helpful and we have a good laugh at the office. They are mostly Brrringlish girls and a whole lot of fun!

However, the same can't be said for the other PA who is from a neighbouring Small Island country. On my first day, this cute petite girl came up to me and said, "I'm Annie, so glad you're here, another Asian!" That should have set the warning bells ringing. I did notice that a couple of the other girls were quite distant, but I understand why now.

Annie and I had a few lunches together and as she became more comfortable with me, she would confide in me about how she felt with regards to work. First of all, she came over to Brringland as an au pair, but due to the right connections, she got a job at the bank. She has absolutely no experience as a PA, speaks very poor English (I don't always understand her) and more importantly, cannot get along with the other girls on the team.

During our chats, I realized that she was very defensive. She would complain about how unhappy she was i.e. she didn't like being a PA and wanted to be a banker so that she could make a lot of money. When I suggested she take up further studies, she said, "Oh, I'm too tired in the evenings!" Yes, she is one of those people who just moans about their situation but does nothing about it. Yawn.

To make matter worse, she was also very offensive. She asked me why I was 'just a PA' when I had a degree. I explained that I love being able to come into work, do my job, then go home without the stress of hitting targets or worrying about huge responsibilities. She also questioned how I was able to buy an apartment on my salary and I explained to her that I've been working for years and that you have this little thing called 'savings'. She is in her early 20s, working in her first office job, and expects to buy her own apartment in the most expensive city in the world! Earth to dope!

What made me finally decide to stop having lunches with her was when she said, "You know, I do much more than the rest of you PAs and have more responsibilties, so I should be paid more!" What she doesn't seem to realize is that she lacks experience and the ability to get along with her colleagues. We all make mistakes but what she does usually ends up in a mess. She has huge dreams, but little ability.

To be honest, I didn't expect my biggest (figuratively, not literally) challenge at work to come from a fellow Asian. I find it embarrassing that one of us 'yellow people' would give our host country such a bad impression. Yesterday, Annie sent another PA and me some of her work to do. I felt my temper flare when I read her email, but decided to sleep on it. I realize that I have to manage Annie, or else it will be just a slippery slope moving forward.

I don't mind explaining or showing you how to do something, but I certainly don't want to do your job for you! As it stands, I am already swamped and often have to work at home in the evenings. I just don't have the time to be another PA's PA.

There is always one person in every office whose work ethic differs from the rest. At the end of the day, it is her issue. I just have to learn how to deal with it professionally, easier said, but it's got to be done!