How to respond to a text I got.

amother

OP ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 2:31 pm

I am being very vague here because I don't want to outs myself or person I work for.

I work remotely. I am a secretary for a lawyer. I don't speak over the phone because of the time difference but we Whatsapp and email.

My boss Larry is good at what he does but to a point. He will ignore lots of my messages with clients waiting for answers. I repeatedly send him messages. I don't work set hours but here and there and he pays me very little only if a case closes. I have several other jobs and this one is a very side one and if my other jobs need me I will put this one on the back burner and unfortunately the clients suffer. My boss is ok with it because he has his issues he is dealing with.

I have protected him from angry clients but I always tell him that they are waiting numerous times.
So Mr. A is desperate for a document which my boss keeps ignoring.
I am always apologizing to the client.
I just got text that the client said that they will be suing ME for not giving over the messages to my boss and that Mr. A feels that I am the one who is blocking everything.
Said I am a lousy secretary because I am ignoring his calls which I am not. He calls several times a day but I don't work all hours so I don't pick up the calls all the time.

So how should I text this client and what to say?
I have been so apologetic and I understand but I really don't get paid enough for this abuse.
What should I say?

amother

Glitter

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 2:38 pm

I'm sorry you feel that you are being ignored by the office, I work remotely and the office is not opened regular hours. I have made sure I sent the requests to Larry several times / when you requested and I'm happy to provide proof.
Once again I'm sorry for not managing to get what you need.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 2:42 pm

He just texted that if I continue to ignore his calls he will make sure that I don't have a job anymore.
I cant get through to him that it is not me who is ignoring him but my boss.

Also should I explain the dynamics of the office how I work only a couple hours a week and not everyday?

amother

Quince

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:22 pm

amother OP wrote:

Text him something like that
Please contact me during my working hours which are from… to…. on Monday and Wednesday. Or whatever days you work.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:26 pm

amother Quince wrote:

Text him something like that
Please contact me during my working hours which are from… to…. on Monday and Wednesday. Or whatever days you work.

The thing is I am in contact with Mr. A via text and I just don't have the time to answer all his calls because my boss doesn't pay me for it.
I feel bad but I need to make money to support my family.

amother

Sapphire

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:40 pm

amother OP wrote:

In the end of the day, he's not your boss. There's not much he can do to you, realistically.
You've been doing your job. I wouldn't worry about it, and I would definitely stop sounding apologetic to this guy.
He wants to play hardball. Ok, that's how we'll play.

imaima

Mon, Nov 11 2024, 3:58 pm

amother OP wrote:

I don’t think you should disclose the dynamics of your office.
It’s overstepping.
I second what was already said: I have a proof that your messages were forwarded.

I feel like you don’t need this job in your life, I would quit anyway if it’s just a side hustle

amother

↑ OP

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:16 am

Thanks all.

Finally my boss called Mr. A.
But I feel that Mr. A said some pretty nasty things about me to Larry. Larry didnt say anything but he said that he will be dealing with Mr. A directly because he feels its much better.
I have been working for Larry for over 12 yrs and this is the first time this happened.
I feel I want to text Mr. A and just say something. He wrote that if I continue to ignore him I will find myself without a job and my boss without a business. He continued on to say that maybe it was all my doing and he has a lousy secretary that ignores messages.
Which is so not true yes I didnt call him back each time because I was messaging my boss who never would reply so I thought he took care of it which is the case most of the time. He will never tell me if he calls a client back, either I will call the client to find out if they got their answer but I dont get paid for doing it or the client will call a month later asking if the info was sent out. Rarely will my boss tell me he does something.

So should I say something to Mr. A/
Should I say something to my boss?

almostlettinggo

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:25 am

You sound like a very honest hardworking person, that although you work few hours, still tries her best and does the work needed. Please do yourself a favor and stop apologizing. This is not about you. I would consider this a sign. First off this guy is frustrated; however he shouldn't be spilling his toxic abuse on You. Secondly, if your boss that you're working for over 12 years puts the blame on you, that says a lot. I'm sure you can find a different side hustle. Realistically, like others said there is nothing he can do to you.

amother

Steelblue

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:36 am

amother Brown wrote:

I have records to prove I have forwarded all the messages to Larry.

This. And you need to be able to provide clients with the times they can call you. It isn't fair for them to call you multiple times for you to say that you weren't working then. Of course they'll say they're being ignored.
Re your boss- this situation doesn't sound healthy... Is there someone you can give feedback to and tell them clients concerns aren't being addressed when you pass them on and you keep hearing about them repeatedly? I second what someone said earlier: doesn't sound like this job is a great contribution to your life

Raizle

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:38 am

imaima wrote:

I agree. It sounds like it's more grief then it's worth.

WhatFor

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:49 am

I would hate to be the public face of a business that neglects and mismanages its clients affairs. There's no way for it to not reflect on you. Why do you work this job, especially if you barely make any money from it? This whole thing sounds dysfunctional.

For whatever amount of time you continue to work there, you can include in your email signature the days/ hours + time zone that you work. (Eg. I work Mon and Thurs from 1-3 pm EST) You can also set your email to auto-respond during the hours when you're not working, with something like, "Thank you for your message. I work Monday and Thursday from 1pm to 3pm EST. I will respond to your message as soon as I can."

But this business sounds like an angry client factory. And you're basically the one taking the fall for him every time. I'm not sure how much money I'd demand to serve in that role for someone, but if I'd agree to do that for any amount of money, it would be way more than someone would agree to pay. You must have tougher skin than I do.

amother

Sage

Tue, Nov 12 2024, 9:54 am

Any time you get an email request from this guy (or anyone), respond to him and CC your boss, and say "Looping Larry into this conversation" so he can see that you forwarded his message. If its a whatsapp message, copy and paste the text into an email and send it to Larry and CC Mr A, with the text " Hi Larry, Please see the request below from Mr. A. Can you help him out? Thank you!"
Leave a conspicuous paper trail.