Dear Vany:

Your frustration has been heard. Unfortunately, not by the boss and co workers. I hope that there are ways for you to assert yourself with them. Decide what you are not willing to do (the tasks others are paid for, especially bonuses) and when blamed by a co worker tell her or him: You are responsible for this mistake; you made this mistake!

I can’t think of a skill more important in one’s private and professional life than being assertive. Some people wait to be appreciated at work but often enough there is nobody there to do the appreciating. You do your best and no credit, no reward, no raises. At the same time, people get comfortable with you doing more and take advantage of you doing more.

So you take charge and say: this is what I am willing to do. This is not my job, this is your job. If you want me to do this, then I will need to get compensated for it. Don’t wait for others to deliver justice to you, you have to fight for it. On top of doing a good job, you have to fight to be paid for it and to be respected in the work place.

Is my input here of any value to you?

anita

Dear Vany:

The example you gave in quotes, is “they” referring to a supervisor? If so, then you should be doing what he told you to do after that writing. You are supposed to follow instructions (aka orders) unless the instruction is to do something illegal.

If the instruction by your boss is what task to do next and that next task is not what you planned, then this is not the place to assert yourself. It is not your place to assert the order of tasks to be done with your boss.

Somehow, maybe through counseling with a career advisor or the like, learn regarding your current job who to assert yourself with and about what topics, when to follow instructions regardless of your evaluation that the instructions don’t make sense, when not.

You have multiple people you are dealing with at work and different assertive practice is needed with the different people.

Learn to be assertive in the context of your current job, for as long as you are there. Only it is not as simple a skill as you think it is because of the variety of people there: assertiveness with a co worker should be different from assertiveness with a superior at work.

And then it is the wording of an assertive statement and the follow up.

anita

I’ve tried to post a few times and for some reason my post isn’t getting through. So I’ll try this again. I know how you feel Vany. I deal with this kind of thing on a daily basis. I don’t believe because you are receptionist it means that you should be taken advantage of and thrown work that is not yours and treated unfairly. I have a blog that talks about this exact issues because it affects so many people that work in the receptionist/admin jobs. Fee free to stop by if you’d like at aforassistant.com

I’m sorry you are going through this. It is a horrible feeling when you feel like your supervisors aren’t listening and/or not treating you right. I’ve dealt with this a lot, especially recently. Sometimes it just doesn’t matter how many times you try and stand up for yourself or take it to a higher supervisor…it just falls on deaf ears. At that time I think it is time to find another place of employment. I know that is easier said than done though.

Dear Vany:”

If “they” are your co workers, not your supervisors, instead of telling them (your quote):
“I’m sorry. But my plate is really full today, I’m unable to do the favor you ask me to.”

I wouldn’t say I am sorry at all. I wouldn’t apologize, that is an unnecessary gesture of submission in this context. I would say instead: “No, I will not do that.”

Back to your quote:”Their response; ‘No, don’t worry, you just call them after this thing you’re writing.’
Me; ‘No, I told you I don’t have time, my client is in a rush and I’ve got a deadline.’”

Instead I would say: “No, I will not do that” I will not tell the co worker that you don’t have time etc. that suggests to her that you think you are supposed to follow her orders, only that you don’t have the time right then to follow her orders. The point you want to make to the co worker is that you are not submissive to her and you don’t follow her instructions, or orders.

anita