You spoke, we listened!
Work-life balance for a private Personal Assistant (PA) in an ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) environment can be highly challenging due to the demanding and fast-paced nature of the job. The role often involves providing personal and business support to high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), who may have unpredictable schedules, requiring their PA to be available at all times, sometimes around the clock.
Here are some key factors that affect the work-life balance of a PA in such environments:
1. Long and Unpredictable Hours
• On-call nature: Many PAs working for UHNW individuals are expected to be available at any hour, especially when their principal travels frequently or has an irregular schedule.
• Last-minute changes: The personal schedules of UHNW individuals can change rapidly, requiring PAs to adjust their plans or handle urgent requests outside of normal working hours.
2. High Expectations and Pressure
• Demand for perfection: UHNW clients often expect a high standard of professionalism and attention to detail. Small mistakes can lead to high stress, as the stakes for maintaining a positive working relationship are significant.
• Multi-tasking: A PA in this environment juggles multiple responsibilities—managing travel, personal errands, events, finances, household staff, and more. This can create pressure to prioritize work over personal time.
3. Travel and Global Reach
• Frequent travel: UHNW employers often expect their PAs to travel with them, leading to significant time away from home. While this can be exciting, it may also disrupt personal plans and relationships.
• Global time zones: Working with principals who have multiple residences across the globe might mean operating in different time zones, leading to late-night or early-morning work, further blurring work-life boundaries.
4. Blurred Lines Between Personal and Professional
• Handling personal errands: The role often involves managing deeply personal aspects of the employer’s life, which can sometimes feel intrusive or uncomfortable. This blending of personal and professional tasks can make it difficult to “switch off” at the end of the day.
• High level of trust and responsibility: PAs are often entrusted with confidential information and personal responsibilities, increasing the emotional investment in the job and making it hard to disengage.
5. Perks and Compensation
• High salaries and perks: PAs working in UHNW environments are often compensated well, with salaries far above industry standards. In addition to financial benefits, they may enjoy access to luxurious environments, exclusive travel, and networking opportunities.
• Lifestyle perks: Despite the demanding nature of the role, many PAs enjoy unique experiences and the chance to develop close relationships with influential people, which can be personally and professionally rewarding.
But what can you do to try and maintain some balance? Read our top tips below – we hope they help…
• Setting boundaries: While being available is part of the job, it’s crucial to establish boundaries with the employer about truly off-duty times, if possible, or negotiating regular time off.
• Outsourcing and delegating: Learning to delegate certain tasks to other household staff or assistants when appropriate can help alleviate the workload.
• Self-care: Given the intensity of the job, prioritizing time for personal health and wellness, even if it means scheduling downtime into a hectic calendar, is critical.
• Communication: Clear and transparent communication with the principal about personal needs and boundaries can sometimes help maintain a more sustainable work-life balance.
It’s not always easy to achieve these things, Overall, the work-life balance for a PA in an UHNW environment tends to be challenging and often favours the “work” side, but for many, the rewards and lifestyle my make it worth the sacrifices…!
