EA to EA: Is there a code?
An assistant recently reached out with a dilemma.
She left a toxic role – the exec had burned their way through several
EAs in the last 18 months, and now someone applying for that same job had messaged her asking for insight. The applicant already had suspicions and was looking for clarity before walking into something that might be harmful.
The question was simple:
“Do I tell her the truth?”
Here’s what I told her:
Yes. But with care.
There absolutely is an EA code, or at least there should be. And it goes like this.
We look out for each other. We speak the truth with compassion. We don’t stay silent when silence could lead another assistant into something we know to be damaging.
You don’t need to burn bridges. You don’t need to tell every gory detail. But if someone’s asking, and you have the information, why wouldn’t you help them make an informed decision?
If the culture hasn’t changed, she deserves to know. And if it has, a good hiring manager should welcome the opportunity to show how.
This profession thrives on discretion, but also on integrity.
And the two are not mutually exclusive.
I’d love to know – what would you do?
