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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Team meeting - rotating chair

89 replies

KimGa · 24/10/2023 20:20

I am part-time (only 16 hours a week). I do admin to fit around school hours. I am the lowest paid, most part-time member of a team of about 35, local government.

We have a regular team meeting which happens to fall at a time I work. I’m of course happy to attend. However, they rotate who chairs the meeting and who minute takes every time, so everyone apparently has to have a turn regardless of seniority.

AIBU to think this is unfair? I don’t object to the minute taking because admin is what I’m paid to do but as I absolutely hate presenting/public speaking of any kind having to chair when it’s my turn causes me so much stress and anxiety.

Surely this is a senior leadership team task and their pay reflects that kind of responsibility.

OP posts:
Wonkasworld · 24/10/2023 20:55

No it really isn't in line with your job. You're not paid at that level.

Bearbookagainandagain · 24/10/2023 20:53

It's a perfect development opportunity for more junior staff, a lot of people in private industry would love to be able to do this.
Depending on what you're studying, it could be really good practice for your new career. You will develop confidence and public speaking skills that are essential for a lot of roles.

KrisAkabusi · 24/10/2023 20:48

It's the opposite of unfair! It's giving everyone a turn at responsibility.

WideLegPant · 24/10/2023 20:45

We do that. It gives junior staff the opportunity to develop their skills chairing and no-one expects a Perfect Public Speaker. Just go for it!

LPsWhistle · 24/10/2023 20:37

If you were the only one not allowed to chair because you’re part-time/in admin/not as well paid, you’d be complaining about that too.

LolaSmiles · 24/10/2023 20:32

Chairing a meeting isn't really presenting or public speaking particularly. It's just guiding the discussion through the points on the agenda and is a useful skill to have.I'd not say it's a senior leader role.

Rotating the chair means that more voices are heard over time and not just the same chair and the same few loud voices.

gossipgurl · 24/10/2023 20:31

I hate chairing meetings too but there is one where the chair revolves and frankly I don’t mind that one as much! It’s the awkwardness of doing it every week which I don’t like.

greenacrylicpaint · 24/10/2023 20:30

we do that and it's great to hear other voices and to see people rise to the challenge.

SwedishEdith · 24/10/2023 20:28

Just make a game of it being about trying to beat the record for the shortest meeting. No one wants to be in a meeting unless something worth talking about.

ProvisionsOnTheDock · 24/10/2023 20:26

It's actually very fair. My team does the same. Plus with 35 people, you're only going to have to do it at most twice a year.

dankfarrik · 24/10/2023 20:26

I've been on teams that did this and I bloody hated it but it wasn't a hill I was prepared to die on so I just did it. I literally just made the agenda and read it out, passing it over to whoever had given the agenda item. I'd much rather just do minutes.

Normalsizedsalad · 24/10/2023 20:25

How iften do you have these? I would assume team would be weekly so you do it approx 1x every 8 months? I think it's good development opportunity for fiture career moves up. It's actually good they do this tbh. But yes can be stressy if you are not used to it

lamalamalamasquirrel · 24/10/2023 20:23

Seems fair enough. Stops someone doing the "wirework" and always taking the minutes.

Doggymummar · 24/10/2023 20:22

I would be happy to be included as a development opportunity, but can't you decline as you are not?