by Virtual Assistant
Background:
This post is a response from my virtual assistant about an interview between me and Stefan (An employer from Germany who lives in Thailand).
At a certain point we’re discussing about the cultural differences between eastern and western countries and I asked some feedback from my virtual assistant who is also from Asia.
I think Stefan is right and every employer thinks in the same way and expects a bit more from his employees (as every employee expects a bit more from his employer, it’s a human nature).
Being specific about Stefan’s cleaning lady case as I already said with due respect that in my opinion she was lying that she came at work, knocked the door and nobody responded and she went back.
Well, Stefan is not the only one who has faced this problem, even I who is living in Asia often face this kind of problem. As in Asia (particularly in South Asia), there is no concept of hourly jobs, hourly means you will get paid on how much you work, but if I told my maid that you’ll get paid on how much you will work, I think she would never agree upon this agreement and I will have to clean my home myself.
So we have to set a monthly fee with her and as she knows that in either way, she will get paid at the end of the month, she often didn’t come to work and upon asking, pleads her lame excuses. I know that these excuses are fake, but I can’t help it and I have to live with it because I can’t see myself cleaning my room every day.
On the other hand, If an employer expects his assistant to go out of the way, an assistant also expects the same from his employer. Money is not always everything. Of course everyone wants to get paid well, but there are many other things that you should keep into consideration when handling your virtual assistants.
Here I want to quote my personal experience: Some days ago, I wanted to replace my laptop and I decided to get an additional short-term contract on a higher price and I was fortunate enough that I found what I wanted.
My client was very aggressive, he always wanted me to get on Skype and I had to be there. So he wanted me to update him each and everything I worked on the same time and when I am not on Skype, I often get this sentence in my mailbox, “hey, where are you? I can’t see you working”
In the meanwhile I got sick and I didn’t work for him for 2 days, although I told him that I am sick and I can’t concentrate on work and therefore I will be off.
When after 3 days (followed by a Sunday), I came back to work and he asked me where I was and so many other questions that what happened to you, I told him I had fever, he said that what type of fever, I told him the type of the fever, then he asked ok this is not very serious, you can take this or that medicine and he also sent me some links that shows that the type of fever I was suffering is not so dangerous for health and curable.
Although I was already recovered, I don’t know he meant it or not, but what I assumed from his gesture that he wanted to convey me that my illness was not enough serious to get absent for three days.
Later, I handled the matter by working extra hours for him. Of course he was happy with my work and wanted to expand the cooperation which I refused.
So the crux of the story it that if you don’t care your employees, you don’t treat them well and don’t allow them to work freely and independently, no wonder how well you are paying to them, they will leave.
This is very similar to great organizations and companies, they all have a fair recruitment and retention policy for their employees, they offer them bonuses, holidays, medical and so many other fringe benefits to their employees so that they keep working for them.
I hope you understand what I mean. If not, I will love hear a counter argument from you.
Comments for What an Employer Expects from His Employees and Vice Versa
| Sep 01, 2014 | Teaching is my passion The reason why we are working is to gain financially. And, yes, no matter how generous are the offers, if the employee is not happy with how he/she is treated, there’s no reason to stick long for that kind of environment.I have years of experience in teaching in an institution, but things around the workplace is no longer worth my effort. And I can’t say it’s a stable job though they are offering fringe benefits and other perks because of “my effort is greater than what I am getting monthly”I love that job, but I am not happy with how things are going, so I quit. |
| Sep 03, 2014 | Ever thought of using this passion elsewhere? Even as a VA you can continue to teach, Jomvie. If you like to show other how to gain a certain skill, this can be done through online seminars, recording how-to videos, or participating in forums to help others.If you could, how would you like to use your passion for teaching in the current position you have?It’s always about turning your passion in what you do – and then work is less hard to do. I like teaching also, I enjoyed giving tutoring lessons in my time as a PhD student from time to time. But most of all, I enjoyed the feeling of when my students “got it” 🙂 The payments have to be acceptable, of course. You need to make ends meet. But the highest paying job is not always automatically the one who makes you happiest. |
