For context, I work for my state government at a wildlife research institute. I am a 25F and my boss is a middle aged man. I am an admin assistant for my boss who deals with budgets and purchasing which includes the purchasing of state vehicles. We have a port lot where we keep state vehicles down the street from our office.
My boss is a little bit of a strange guy to begin with but seemingly very harmless.
The other day, he approaches my desk and asks if I would “run an errand with him” and he adds on “in your car”. I asked for more information because I would like to know what I’m getting myself into. He says that he needs to jump start one of the state vehicles and drive it to the shop and he needs me to follow him and drive him back to the office. I’m immediately uncomfortable with the thought of being stuck in a vehicle alone & not on company property with him. But he’s my boss so I said sure.
During lunch I texted the other admin telling her what happened and she immediately went and asked another male that usually works in the field to do it.
When I get back from lunch I thank the field guy and he mentions to me how he understands and how my boss gives HIM the creeps and how he thought it was inappropriate of my boss to ask me to do that.
It never clicked until I thought about it more and realized there are multiple maintenance men (who have state vehicles and get reimbursed for their gas, whereas I do not) who could have driven him.