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Subject:Re: Secretary Proofing Manuals? From:Pat Anderson <panders -at- aw -dot- sgi -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 24 Oct 2001 16:31:14 -0400
Tina wrote:
>I am very upset and insulted because the "uppers" insist on the executive
>assistant proofing all of our manuals before they go out to our customers.
>In fact, we have to start including her in our style meetings as well. Am I
>just being egotistical? Does anyone else have a similar scenario?
>
>The executive assistant doesn't have any control over the software so why
>should she have any control over the manuals? They are products just as
>well.
>
No point in getting angry, or trying to get even.
Use her for the purpose the uppers want her used for... proofing.
Make sure you have a good, up to date style guide, and spell out clearly the duties expected in proof reading.
What is her background? I know a number of executive assistants who have at the very least, a B.A. -- some have Masters' degrees. They would all have been extremely capable of doing well at proofreading. Those, that is, who wouldn't consider it demeaning.
They've probably asked for her to be included in the style meetings so that she understands what is approved style and what is not -- otherwise she *could* be making decisions while proofreading.
Frankly, proofreading is near the bottom of the foodchain in terms of $/hour. They may want to be saving your valuable time for valuable work -- better ROI.
(then again, maybe I'm just having a miserable Wednesday)
...pat.
Pat Anderson,
Documentation Manager, Design Products
Alias|Wavefront
tel: (416) 874-8375
email: panders -at- aw -dot- sgi -dot- com http://www.aliaswavefront.com
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