Coworker dumps her work onto executive assistant, tries to make her cancel her day off to do extra work: 'That's not happening!'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
May 8, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

When a coworker asks you to do a favor for them, typically, you expect it to be a simple task. At most, maybe you'll spend an hour showing this person how something is done and setting them up for success. This is common if you're working with a new hire or collaborating with someone on a project where it's important that you help one another out with respective duties and responsibilities. 

However, sometimes it becomes clear that you're not just helping a coworker out one time. Sometimes, that coworker has revealed themselves to be a total slacker who has no plan to do their work all by themselves. Perhaps they're envious of how well you get things done or perhaps they're so entitled that they have managed to convince themselves that certain tasks are beneath them. That seems to be the case for this executive assistant's coworker, who thought she could dump a ton of work on the assistant just because she was lower than her on the company totem pole.

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    Cheezburger Image 10502567680
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Before we get into the details of this anecdote, let's be clear about one thing: the author of this story is, in fact, an executive assistant, but the person ordering her around was not her boss. Let this tale serve as a reminder for all of you clueless employees out there that just because you're technically more important than someone with the hierarchy of your company does not mean you are their manager or boss!

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    My firm recently merged with a larger firm. I'm the boss's EA. Some admin from the larger firm asked me if I could upload some of our old contracts. I said I'd work on it. She said she needed it in two weeks (tomorrow).
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    I had some, but not all, the contracts. Maybe 33% and I uploaded them the next day. No small feat given my workload. I
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    assumed the other lawyers on my team had the rest. They only had a few and that just got uploaded yesterday. I didn't know
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    what they had until they went through their files and they're busy. The rest, I assume, is with my boss.
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    Cheezburger Image 10502568192
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    I had planned on taking tomorrow off and today is my WFH day. Since my boss is in meetings all day and leaving. early, I'm not going to get time to
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    finish this project as I need to discuss with her to find the missing contracts. Even if she wasn't busy, I'm not driving to the office after putting in 11 hour workdays this week.
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    I told my coworker that she's going to have to wait until next week because my boss is too busy today and I'm off tomorrow.
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    She asked if I wasn't off tomorrow then would I be able to finish the project. I said probably. She asked me to cancel my day off lol
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    I told her that's not happening. I don't work for you, I work for my boss and she didn't give me this assignment. I'm helping you out.
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    Besides, what difference does it matter if it gets done tomorrow at the end of the day or on Tuesday? I did what I could do.
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    She got mad at me and complained how this was setting her work back. I said you wouldn't have one contract if you asked anyone else to help you
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    out. I told her that my boss said it will have to wait until next week and if she has a problem with it then take it up with her and have a great weekend.
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    GirlDad2023 · 1 hr. ago • Your coworkers lack of planning doesn't mean you have an emergency. They should have planned more carefully since you don't work for them. NTA, enjoy your long weekend!
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    . 1_Voice 1 hr. ago If you're doing her a favor that's outside of your obligations, NTA.
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    On the one hand, changing your day off to help her could go a long way towards fostering a good working relationship;
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    on the other, it could encourage her to take advantage of you in the future.
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    If you've already discussed it with your boss, & your boss has said it'll have to wait, I'd stick with that.
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    SouthernWork7036 OP • 1 hr. ago She's not worth it to cancel my day off let alone cancel my day off AND come to the office to finish a project that
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    may or may not get done. All that will do is set up this expectation that I'm willing to drop everything for her.
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    Net_Nobody77 · 2 hr. ago NTA. Please. Enjoy your time off, you earned it. And if she tries this ag ain, direct her straight t o your boss
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    sarastorm- 1 hr. ago • You're NTA for maintaining boundaries and standing up for your planned time off. It's important to prioritize your own well- being and mental health,
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    especially when you've been working long hours and have already fulfilled your commitment to help with the project to the best of your ability
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