Emergency Backup
Regardless of how dependable your personal assistant is, there will be times when an emergency arises and he/she will have to miss work without much notice. By planning ahead you will be prepared for those unexpected times. Also, if you should have to terminate a personal assistant without notice, or if your personal assistant quits without notice, you will need to be prepared.
It is important to have on hand a list of names and phone numbers of people who might be willing to work for you on a temporary basis. This list could include:
- Qualified people you have interviewed and not hired
- Family members
- Friends
- Personal assistants who have worked for you before. If you have had a good assistant in the past and they have left to move on to school, or another job, consider staying in touch with them. Good ways to keep in touch from time to time include sending birthday cards, greeting cards, or another friendly notes to show your appreciation. If they are available, these individuals will most likely work as an emergency backup for you.
Think about your schedule and what kind of assistance you need for each different time period (morning, lunch, bowel program, evening, etc.). Decide what periods and services are most important.
If the backup is someone you do not know, give that person a detailed description of the duties he/she will be performing. Be as specific as possible so that the person can make decisions more quickly and will be less likely to misunderstand the situation.
With an emergency backup assistant, you may want to have your basic needs met first. This is the most important! Some of the non-essential activities may have to wait, or you may be able to find an acquaintance who is willing to help you out in those situations.
Money can be an important factor when you’re trying to locate an emergency personal assistant. Realizing that a backup has to disrupt his/her normal routine, keeping extra money put aside for such emergencies will help to ensure finding and keeping good backup support.