OK here's the backstory - I worked for a small company as a word processor for a while because I got laid off from an editorial job. The editor at my new job quit, and I was given all editorial responsibilities with the promise that, if there was ever enough work to make a full-time editing job, the job would be mine. Owners of the smaller company refused to enforce the quality control plan, and project staff basically ignored the fact that I'm not just the best word processor the company had (my teammates were marginal at best), but I am also the company's ONLY editor. So I would get a rare editorial assignment (which I had to perform perfectly and within budget because I didn't want anyone to stop using me for that), but still have to deal with thousands of little interruptions because so-and-so needs some CDs burned or labels printed, or sandwiches fetched and the receptionist wants a smoke break, so someone has to watch the phones, or "I'm expecting an important visitor and need someone to meet them at the door could you please be waiting there when he arrives?" It was frustrating enough to begin with.
Fast forward now about 2 years and smaller company is purchased by huge company. Huge company puts out proportionately more deliverables, has a world-renowned reputation, no editor, and an opening on the admin team. I am offered opening. I accept opening because a) I would move to larger company's home office before anyone else at smaller company (thus getting me away from them for awhile) b) new boss is much better at listening than old boss, who sat around all day finding good radio stations to listen to c) bigger company is poised to be a huge presence in the field and will need some quality control to maintain reputation for quality. If I could make some powerful friends and show the value of my work, maybe bigger company will create editorial position and I will finally get my career back on track.
So I've been working hard ever since I came over her to make the friends, provide the service, market my skills, and show that I have far more to offer than coil binding reports and stuffing envelopes. It has worked. I have been told that, with the recent reorganization and my rapidly growing editorial workload, corporate has seen that this is a good idea and I am going to finally get the job I have been working towards for the past three years.
Everyone in now even bigger company (smaller company staff has since integrated and moved into home office as well) has been told several times to go to admin team leader for requests to format documents, print, bind, punch, order office supplies, etc. I was given a 150-page report to edit this morning and I have FOUR MORE coming in later today. I wasn't able to even start on the first one until 9 a.m. because staff from smaller company keep coming over to my desk and asking, "Hey, are you busy?" when I say yes, they ask me who else formats documents? Who else can I ask to go get my clients their lunches? These people have been told at least ten times now that those questions are to be directed to the admin team leader - not me! I went straight to her after the third one and explained the situation - that I cannot fulfill my editorial duties if I am continuously interrupted like that. She sent out a reminder email to everyone telling them that we have an established procedure of written requests to her for that type of thing, but these people just aren't listening. I think I'll take the rest of it home this afternoon where the only one bothering me for piddly little stuff will be my DH.
Edited for typos.
