It Seems Like All My Colleagues Are Conspiring Against Me. I Know What It All Comes Down To.

"I am the vice president of administration at a mid-sized company, and I am excluded or omitted in nearly every context. I don't know what more I can do. I am unfailingly pleasant. I am prompt and accurate. I take initiative and identify friction before it causes problems. I check in with people up and down the company roster, especially during times of change and strain. I encourage everyone, at every opportunity, to come to me with questions, no matter how small."

"Yet, I am an afterthought at best. My fellow senior managers gather and strategize without me. Credit for wins goes to sales, development, the CEO, or anyone except the departments I supervise. Contracts land on my desk without the benefit of my input, requiring corrections at the very minimum. My colleagues green-light activities that need work from my area of the company without telling me, and then I spend late-night hours backfilling."

"When I have requested earlier involvement, with reasons (but no blame), they apologize and/or make excuses and say they'll do better. I have a lot of authority in my corner of the company, but I do not have the authority to push back or refuse to complete work that bypasses procedure (on which employees are thoroughly trained). The CEO cares only about profit, expects the admin to function seamlessly and quietly, and would not look kindly on complaints."

A vice president of administration reports persistent exclusion from meetings, decision-making, and credit despite being punctual, accurate, proactive, and supportive across the company. Contracts and initiatives frequently bypass the administration, creating rework that falls to the administrative team, requiring late-night backfilling. Requests for earlier involvement elicit apologies and promises but no lasting change. The vice president has operational authority in their area but lacks power to refuse improperly routed work. The CEO prioritizes profit and expects the administration to operate seamlessly and quietly. The vice president wonders whether systemic undervaluing of administrative roles, often held by women, drives the disrespect.

Read at Slate Magazine