My exec can email me at 3am if she wants to, I won't see the message before the morning 🤷🏽♂️ It's not our place to tell thmywhen they cant or can't message us. Just dont reply if out of hours. Though imo, EA is not a 9-5 job
I agree. Sometimes I am working late or very early morning and I have something to delegate, I do drop slack messages because I might forget otherwise. But I never expect responses until regular business hours. So it is really up to you to respond after hours or not.
Go ahead and have a conversation with your boss. Most of us don’t realize until the conversation happens. Regardless of OT and legality of it, why do you want to work after hours anyway? Work life balance is super important for mental health and productivity.
Also, think for a moment - is it the after hour request you don’t like or is it your boss you don’t like.
legal assistant at a labor law firm here. depending on how much you make and how many people you supervise you may be entitled to overtime regardless of what your contract says (it’s the law). anyway—just call his bluff and set the boundary. get off at 6. it does not matter literally at all that he wants you to be on longer; given the number of people quitting rn you have all the leverage. never let cheapo bosses get the best of you. good luck!
What specific items is he needing support with before 8 am and after 6 pm? Are there things you can do during normal working hours to help alleviate his stress?
Hi there, everything is urgent for executives. Boundaries I set were not to respond after 6pm, with no OT and not urgent. I would also kindly acknowledge if it was a text and complete the following morning, then let him know details have been completed. If email, respond the following day. You can also take the initiative to discuss your salary and OT with him. It can be difficult but I did do this with one CEO and my salary was bumped. He and I both knew the expectations and were both happy.
What level is your boss? Meaning c suite, MD, etc. What exactly does he say he’s not getting? Does he say he needs you to schedule regular meetings at 9pm? Or just for urgent stuff? Or is he really after a 24/7 availability? Unless you’re supporting someone extremely senior AND are making a really high salary (eg 100k + for nyc) you’re not being compensated for 10+ hours a day. Tell him that.
I am definitely not making 100k (just started making 80k) and he’s the President of the company. A lot of his after hours requests can be done during business hours BUT he is the kind of person who thinks everything is urgent & when he’s working, we all should. Quite frankly, I’m fed up.
I don't understand why you don't want him reaching out to you when he needs something. Who should he call? An EA is there for their CEO. Period. Anytime. Once he stops calling you, then he doesn't need you and he doesn't think about you. You don't want that.
Coach
My exec can email me at 3am if she wants to, I won't see the message before the morning 🤷🏽♂️
It's not our place to tell thmywhen they cant or can't message us. Just dont reply if out of hours.
Though imo, EA is not a 9-5 job
I agree. Sometimes I am working late or very early morning and I have something to delegate, I do drop slack messages because I might forget otherwise. But I never expect responses until regular business hours. So it is really up to you to respond after hours or not.
Go ahead and have a conversation with your boss. Most of us don’t realize until the conversation happens. Regardless of OT and legality of it, why do you want to work after hours anyway? Work life balance is super important for mental health and productivity.
Also, think for a moment - is it the after hour request you don’t like or is it your boss you don’t like.
Good luck!
EA role is OT eligible.
legal assistant at a labor law firm here. depending on how much you make and how many people you supervise you may be entitled to overtime regardless of what your contract says (it’s the law). anyway—just call his bluff and set the boundary. get off at 6. it does not matter literally at all that he wants you to be on longer; given the number of people quitting rn you have all the leverage. never let cheapo bosses get the best of you. good luck!
Mentor
What specific items is he needing support with before 8 am and after 6 pm? Are there things you can do during normal working hours to help alleviate his stress?
Hi there, everything is urgent for executives. Boundaries I set were not to respond after 6pm, with no OT and not urgent. I would also kindly acknowledge if it was a text and complete the following morning, then let him know details have been completed. If email, respond the following day. You can also take the initiative to discuss your salary and OT with him. It can be difficult but I did do this with one CEO and my salary was bumped. He and I both knew the expectations and were both happy.
Coach
What level is your boss? Meaning c suite, MD, etc. What exactly does he say he’s not getting? Does he say he needs you to schedule regular meetings at 9pm? Or just for urgent stuff? Or is he really after a 24/7 availability? Unless you’re supporting someone extremely senior AND are making a really high salary (eg 100k + for nyc) you’re not being compensated for 10+ hours a day. Tell him that.
I am definitely not making 100k (just started making 80k) and he’s the President of the company. A lot of his after hours requests can be done during business hours BUT he is the kind of person who thinks everything is urgent & when he’s working, we all should. Quite frankly, I’m fed up.
I don't understand why you don't want him reaching out to you when he needs something. Who should he call? An EA is there for their CEO. Period. Anytime. Once he stops calling you, then he doesn't need you and he doesn't think about you. You don't want that.