Yesterday, at the end of the workday, the boss called me in. I thought we were going to discuss a new project, but it turned out to be for a personal matter. He asked me to check if his package had arrived, and then he mentioned another personal request. Should I accept something like this? It’s not part of my job, but I’m afraid it will look bad if I refuse. Has this happened to anyone before?
9 Answers
9Once, my boss said to me, ‘You seem like a reliable person. I forgot my wife’s birthday, could you arrange a flower or something?’ I was shocked at that moment. I thought it was a joke, but he was completely serious… I didn’t do it, I managed to get out of it with an excuse. Set the boundary from the beginning, I swear it becomes a habit later.
So, this special job you mentioned isn’t just about this cargo, right? Has he asked for anything else before, or does he generally have these kinds of discussions often?
@damlacık there have been a couple of instances like this before, but I didn’t say anything because they were minor issues. Now it seems like it’s getting worse 
@elifcim I think you’re exaggerating. People should be a bit flexible in their work lives; professionalism isn’t just limited to the office. If you had arranged it, what would it be?
Such things can actually cause issues if they have been added to the job description. In labor law, the employer’s request for personal services from an employee is a controversial matter. If it happens very frequently or turns into an official duty, you may need to indicate this in writing in a way that won’t harm your job.
I think the boss might have trusted you specifically. But I don’t know how far that trust goes. In some workplaces, such things are talked about as the beginning of something.
@asucimilk let’s not jump to conclusions about everything. Just because people develop a bit of closeness at work, it doesn’t mean there’s something else going on. It might just be a tactic to pass some of the workload to someone else 
Once, my boss at my old job asked me to wash his car. I did it to maintain good relations, but later I realized that tasks completely unrelated to my job started piling up on me. That’s why I should have drawn boundaries from the beginning.
I think you shouldn’t do it; if necessary, clearly say ‘it’s outside my field of work.’ You shouldn’t be afraid of looking bad.