would you/do you get your secretary to

Deals_2

do any of your financial transactions or things such as ordering food from tesco etc. i just worry about the financial implications just in case. how do people work around this? any tips on the tesco site for example as we need to plan a good meal plan for dairy free and gluten free because of allergies.thanks!

Horace

In a word no - you or your wife should order food from Tesco, your secretary is there for office work e.g. answering the telephone, making appointments, writing letters, you may ask her to go to the bank with business money or even process expenses but don't us her for personal stuff such as shopping because you have a problem with meal plans. Look at the moneysaving oldstyle board elsewhere on this forum - they have lots of ideas for mealplans over there and can cope with all sorts of dietary requirements, you only need to ask.

I can remember when I was a PA, my boss asked me to order some flowers for valentines day for his wife - he told me money no object and so I ordered a dozen red roses..he was absolutely livid.

Debt_Free_Chick

I think each situation is individual and depends on what each party is comfortable with. If your secretary is happy to do some of your personal tasks, then why not?

I'm assuming that this is very much your own business, though.

TM1976

I think the OP is not asking if it's OK to ask the secretary rather what is the implication of giving them the authority to order stuff on his behalf.

Deals please clarify.

PolishBigSpender

At least from my point of view, a secretary is there to do as you please, within reason. Organising meals and ordering food isn't unreasonable - it's quite a normal thing for a PA to do.

Horace

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

At least from my point of view, a secretary is there to do as you please, within reason. Organising meals and ordering food isn't unreasonable - it's quite a normal thing for a PA to do.

Organising meals and food in an office context yes but not online shopping for home use which is how I have read it. The OP is not very clear.

Deals_2

thanks everso for all your input so far!

TM1976 wrote: »

I think the OP is not asking if it's OK to ask the secretary rather what is the implication of giving them the authority to order stuff on his behalf.

Deals please clarify.

TM1976

A big co. would set out by policy or contract a limit to what they could order. However if it's your secretary you may have more control over what they do.

Technically you shouldn't give them your credit card to pay for this stuff as only you should approve payments.

You could issue her with a credit card and allow her to make payments. You could then review the statements, however she could possible spend for herself on this (perhaps you could stipulate a small credit limit).

bestyman

Hmmmm...this thread is not what I first thought !

pramsay13

bestyman wrote: »

Hmmmm...this thread is not what I first thought !

Me too, you're lucky I read as far as your post.;)

Sunshine12

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

At least from my point of view, a secretary is there to do as you please, within reason. Organising meals and ordering food isn't unreasonable - it's quite a normal thing for a PA to do.

Isnt unreasonable in whose opinion - yours or hers? I assume things like popping out to get you a pint of milk or organise what you having for dinner isnt in her job description so what would make it reasonable?!!! Sounds to me like you think having a PA is basically having a glorified skivvy to do with what you please. I would never have dreamed of treating staff like that!! Different if the offer was made by them if they going to shops anyway (and reciprocated if I was) but certainly not expected of them. You must be a blast to work for!!