Tag Archive for 'the new york times'

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new york times reports on tacky coworkers

Published on July 10, 2008 in Heroes. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Today’s New York Times covers the real news–workplace etiquette. Hey, there’s a war going on and some kind of election thing going on, but I will always flip to the style section of the paper first, and they know it. And besides, if anyone knows how gross, rude, and inconsiderate coworkers can be, it’s an STA reader. From the boss who scratched his balls incessantly to the CEO who stole his employees’ Tupperware to the coworker who didn’t grasp the art of cell phone etiquette, this site has varieties of bad job behavior pretty much covered. However, I’d like to share this excerpt from the article, where I basically agree with every single thing the writer says:

Continue reading ‘new york times reports on tacky coworkers’

being kevin bacon’s assistant pays well

Published on July 3, 2008 in Celebrity Assistant Soapbox. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Normally, I go right past the New York Times’ “Habitats” section, because it tends to remind me how I will never be able to afford to buy property in New York City, no matter how bad the housing market gets. But I couldn’t help but notice a recent article about a “career girl” who finally bought herself a large, beautiful condo in Connecticut. That woman, 60-year-old Susan Mieras (pictured), is the personal assistant to actor couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. She’s been their assistant for 14 years and seems to a) have made some nice money for herself, and b) genuinely like her job. Not only that, but for someone who is 60 years old, her skin is phenomenal. Seriously, what product is she using? Maybe it’s that Connecticut air or something.

finance tips for assistants

Published on June 16, 2008 in Survival Guide. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

This weekend’s New York Times Business section had an article that did a pretty good job of breaking down the finance stuff any young person should know. When you’re in your first (or second, or third) job, the long, detailed lists of possible benefit plans are confusing at best. Writer Ron Lieber spells out the vitals about health insurance, 401(k)s, taxes, and more.

In addition to this article, we also like WiseBread.com, which is all about money advice for 20somethings, and the occasional dose of Suze Orman.

tyra banks and the tale of the many assistants

Published on June 3, 2008 in Celebrity Assistant Soapbox. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

This week’s New York Times magazine cover story is about the world of Tyra Banks. As a model, TV host, and businesswoman, the magazine profiles her as the possible next Martha or Oprah, a woman who is also a brand. While it’s not the easiest article to get through (the online edition is ten pages long), particularly if you find Ty-Ty’s personality to be a bit grating, it’s worth pointing out that the article is full of assistants.

First, a photo of Tyra that accompanies the article is of her being prepped for a shoot by several assistants (one is applying her lipstick, one seems to be holding a comb, and I have no idea what the third one is doing). Later, Tyra talks about how she got rid of her BlackBerry and now writes everything down in a notebook, where each of her assistants (the number is never stated) has his or her own tab.

However, one of the most interesting parts of the interview is the presence of Bradford Sisk. He’s the VP of Tyra’s production company, Bankable, and got his start as her assistant. I find it pretty cool whenever a celebrity helps his or her assistant to get work–Kimora Lee Simmons, for example, has rewarded a former PA with a high level publicity job at Baby Phat. Maybe Tyra recognized something special in Bradford and used her power to get him a job worthy of his talents. Or maybe he just proved to be so adept at dealing with her bullshit that she can’t afford not to keep him around. Either way, there’s a lot of assistanty stuff going on in the world of Miss Tyra, and this is even before her new reality show starts.

the worst assistant job ever?

Published on June 2, 2008 in Assistants in the News. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Yesterday’s New York Times ran a short article about exterminators who work solely on solving New York’s rat problem. The piece highlighted two of the exterminators–Ruben Cruz and his assistant, Chris Reyes. Reyes, who is 22 and originally from Puerto Rico, may in fact have the worst assistant job in the world. Perhaps I’m biased, since last week when I was walking home from a party down a dingy block near my apartment, a huge rat almost ran over my foot, but the endless drudgery of making copies and re-organizing the boss’ email file folders seems downright pleasant compared to hunting down rodents.

Or then again, maybe you could argue that making copies and re-organizing the boss’ email file folders counts as working with one giant rat instead of several thousand small ones. And working with the small ones probably gives you better job security.

‘redbook’ editor slams assistants

Published on May 5, 2008 in Manifestos. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

I was thrilled to see yesterday’s New York Times profile of one of my favorite blogs, Jezebel. The site, which covers “women’s issues” (everything from motherhood to fashion to celebrities to politics) in a smart and non-condescending way, got its first big rush of publicity last summer, when they paid an anonymous source for a photograph of Faith Hill posing for the cover of Redbook magazine. They compared the original photo to the heavily Photoshopped one that made the actual cover, and used the two photos as a jumping-off point to talk about the way the media distorts images of women.

Redbook’s editor in chief, Stacy Morrison, is understandably annoyed with Jezebel for making her magazine look stupid. Rightly, she criticizes them for paying for the photo, which is a somewhat questionable journalistic practice. But it’s not enough for her to stop there.

“Encouraging people to steal proprietary information was a somewhat dubious beginning, but I get it,” she said. “Gossip is fun, which is probably why all the assistants look at Jezebel.”

Oh, I’m sure that only the assistants at your company look at Jezebel. Because only assistants like gossip. Yeah, right. I actually had some sympathy for you until you had to tack on that slam against Jezebel via slamming assistants. In your mind, assistants are “fun” and “like gossip,” which is your not-so-subtle magazine editor way of saying it’s fluffy, light, and dumb, just like you think assistants are.

No, the real reasons assistants read sites like Jezebel are because a) it’s more interesting than the soulless work you probably make them do, and b) they often discuss feminism and workplace politics, which might inspire them to find jobs that don’t involve working for people like you.

the lost benefits of eavesdropping

Published on April 16, 2008 in Junk Drawer. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

As offices become more automated and rely more on email than phones (my former boss, a total PTP, used to ask me to send people telegrams. seriously), there’s one tradition going the way of the passenger pigeon: eavesdropping.

Ah, eavesdropping. It’s a fine art, really. Think how many soap opera plots would disappear if Character A couldn’t overhear (and misinterpret) Character B on the phone with Character C. Eavesdropping is the simplest and most effective way to find out about office gossip. And the constant chatter of multiple people in multiple offices on multiple phone calls keeps the office from feeling like a tomb, which is what happens now that companies are giant mazes of people staring blankly at their computer screens and typing into oblivion.

The NY Times has a great article about the dying art of eavesdropping. Read it and then see if it inspires you to make a phone call or three today.

joan didion’s assistant makes more than you do

Published on January 8, 2008 in Celebrity Assistant Soapbox. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Over the weekend, the New York Times ran an article about ski clubs, which are apparently going the way of the dodo bird. Skiing, generally seen as a hobby only for the wealthy, isn’t about to lose that reputation any time soon. The profile of the ski clubs isn’t why we’re directing you to this article, though. It’s the casual mention that one of the ski club members is a woman named Sharon Lieberman, who works as the assistant to famed writer Joan Didion. I guess being the assistant to a Pulitzer winner not only means you make bank, but you get time off to go cavort on the slopes in Vermont?

[Ms. Didion, in her younger and slightly more badass days.]

At least Joan Didion seems to actually need an assistant, unlike some writers we can think of.

‘new york times’ debates assistantdom

Published on November 13, 2007 in Assistants in the News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

One of the biggest news stories going on right now (at least it is in the NYC area–you can’t pass a newsstand without seeing mention of it) is the Linda Stein story. Stein, a former manager of the Ramones who became a celebrity real estate broker, was found murdered in her swanky Fifth Avenue apartment. Over the weekend, Ms. Stein’s personal assistant, Natavia Lowery, confessed to killing her boss after Stein was verbally abusive and blew marijuana smoke in her face.

The New York Times‘ coverage of the Stein story has also included a larger debate about the way people should treat their personal assistants. Here are some of the comments from both sides of the aisle:

“There is a snapping point. People in this city treat assistants like **** everyday and are always astonished when something like this happens. Treat people with dignity and this will stop happening.”– JustStop

“Being a personal assistant is no more likely to promote homidical behavior than any other job involving a supervisor and a worker reporting directly to him or her. The guys who have done school mass killings, the postal workers who have done similar workplace mass killings, none were personal assistants.”- RickAnalyst

“This is a horrible crime and there is no excuse for killing a person. But rich and powerful people sometime treat their subordinates like dirt. Look at home [sic] many people Naomi Campbell has treated like dogs.”- Giselle

“Of course nothing justifies murder. But those of us who have worked as personal assistants to the famous (or those who are famous in their own minds) can never make the rest of you understand the cruelties, small and large, that assault us every day.”- Ann

Want to weigh in? The debate is ongoing here.

when dating in the office is encouraged

Published on October 15, 2007 in Junk Drawer. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Even though TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and The Office feature a string of coworkers hooking up with other coworkers, it’s certainly not acceptable in the real workplace. Or is it?

An article in the New York Times insists that age-old rule is reversing. And why would bosses ever be OK with their employees dating each other? Because it keeps employees that much more connected (or tied to) their work. From the article:

SOON after word spread that Sarah Kay and Matt Lacks were conducting an office romance, Ms. Kay found herself in the office of the director of human resources. There was a time when such a meeting would have signaled a death knell for the relationship, and even jeopardized the employees’ careers.

Yet as Ms. Kay, 29, cheerfully recounted, the human resources director told her, “We’re just all really glad that you made a friend.”

Think about it: did you ever make a point of showing up ten minutes early for your college bio lab, even though you hated the class, because there was a really hot guy or girl who sat next to you? Bosses are now hoping that the same trend rubs off at work. If you have a crush on a coworker, you’ll spend more time at work. People who have sex are happier people, so two coworkers getting it on means two people who come in with smiles on their faces every morning.

Not totally convinced? Neither are we, but you can check the article out here.