To speak up at work

I tend to agree with this, I can’t stand that “only a [role you see as being lowly]” it’s really demeaning and makes you sound like certain things are above you.

however if when on reception you/your colleagues cant do their “regular” work to the same level or quantity as before (especially if it’s a job that needs focus and concentration where interruptions, however necessary such as someone coming to reception affect how much you can do of your regular job), the employer needs to acknowledge this and manage it fairly.

If this were me, when on reception if you don’t know something I’d probably say to the visitor or caller that you’re covering, most people would then not criticise a delay or you not knowing something straight away

How difficult is it to put together a FAQ document yourself and refer to it? Sometimes you need to meet the needs of the business as well as them meeting yours, it's not easy restructuring and it is probably more temporary than you think. Sometimes everyone needs to pitch in. I do get the frustration but that's the world of work, sometimes we all have to do things that's less than ideal.
Also wouldn't worry about others attitude to work, focus on yourself.

This . Plus they know you will speak up.

I think you might be better asking for some of your day to day workload to be reduced to accommodate you being on reception rather than moaning about the reception duty. You might find you get a better result that way if they see it means they won't get the important bits of your job done.
I do agree with other posters that you sound a bit arrogant. Nothing is below anyone

I’m struggling to have sympathy for you because you so obviously feel being a receptionist is beneath you…yet you can’t actually do the job.

I hate this type of petty snobbery.

Also, be aware that, if you're constantly moaning about the new set up, others might make sympathetic noises that may sound like they agree with you. That doesn't necessarily mean that they do... they might simply be taking the path of least resistance because they can't be bothered to argue the toss about it.

The business sounds like piss takers. They just don't want to pay for a full time person on reception.

If it is not a large company then it really might not seem cost effective to have a full time receptionist, especially if it has been experiencing financial difficulties. My experience in medium size companies has been that when times were good they would have someone on the front desk at all times, but when there were cut backs this would get covered in some way by existing staff. In smaller companies then they have hardly ever had reception staff, again this is managed by existing staff.

OP, I think that, as others suggest, the most constructive way to tackle this is to push for some FAQs. There are surely only a limited range of questions? Perhaps have a list of names as to who knows the most about particular areas so if you are handling a query you really can't answer you can call the expert directly.

You said:
bully for you for picking up litter. Honestly I would have taken the job if I had known about reception. I e worked in the sector for many years and have a lot of experience and knowledge in my area. I feel it's a waste of my time sitting at reception.

In a previous job I had there was a rather unpleasant issue with a toilet (I will spare everyone the details!) Suffice it to say the cleaning contractors were refusing to deal with it. In the end one of the senior managers, a woman with many years experience in her field, just slapped on some rubber gloves and sorted the situation herself. I feel that is a lot more unpleasant and a bigger step down than a few hours covering reception, but she gained a lot of respect from the staff for doing that.

Honestly, OP, I think you're being unreasonable. Whether you like it or not, the company has restructured and you have accepted the new job description, which seems to be broad enough to cover this. Other people are getting on with it, while you're still kicking off.

Now, it might be the case that the new structure isn't ideal, and it's OK to raise genuine issues in a constructive manner. Or it might simply be the case that the company is prepared to go through a bit of a difficult transitional period while everyone learns the new roles, and then it will all be fine. Either way, your comment about feeling that you're worth more than a receptionist is very telling and I would hazard a guess that your primary objection to the new structure is that you think this role is beneath you.

There is a reason why others have decided to accept the new status quo and make the best of it. If you don't want to do the same, then maybe start looking for another job instead of sticking around and complaining.

YANBU for being annoyed at the job change.

YABU for being annoyed at others who are happy to accept it, that's their business.

YABVU to be so snobby about receptionists.

They’re not being goody goodies they’re protecting themselves at a time when things are chaotic and people don’t need everything being fought. If you have a solution being it to them, if not what good is moaning?

I honestly feel your pain. My work is like this too load of ass licking sheep. NHS.
So this is the senario that would happen with ur problem in my work.
Problem. I get made to do this role, that i down know is so not efficient and doesn't look good to patients/public etc. so I'll learn the questions, write them all down. Keep a notepad for the future. Learn the role so I don't have to hate doing it, be proactive and will soon know way more than u used to. Better service.

My work:- ooh X really like that role, she's good at it snd learned it well so let's just put her on that all the time, stops all the moaners having to do it.

Royally fkd.

You can't change how others feel though. So you need to stop getting annoyed at people who aren't as bothered about this as you are. Or who have taken the view that keeping their heads down is more important to them right now.

What is it that you want to change? Is it just that you hate doing it so want to stop? Or would you not mind if your workload was planned better and you were trained? Moaning on teams isn't going to get you anywhere. You need to have structured chats, with a clear thought process from you, about what you think needs to happen/what you want to happen.

But also recognise, that there will always be a compromise involved and you are starting off on a weak foot due to your previous actions.

Well they won't speak up if they know you are going to . I learned my lesson years ago when the whole team were bitching about a situation that was causing stress so I brought it up in a team meeting and no one said a word to back me up . I later found out that one of the chief moaners actually said that I had ambushed them all in the meeting and they didn't know anything about it . Never again .

A receptionist is not your role. Your manager can’t just tell you there’s a new rota for you to do a completely different job to what your paid for.

What is the function of reception at that workplace? Does the company fundamentally benefit from, or run for, the customers who have to start there?

It sounds a dreadful way of running a reception (essentially virtual with someone typing in the query who probably won't look very well informed), but in this case, you will either learn, which is probable, or customers will vote with their feet and be rather dissatisfied, so that will show that this is either a good thing or not. The staff too, may well vote with their feet which will lead to more turnover and hassle. My thought is that they're potentially planning a fully remote or AI-driven reception set-up instead of a replacement post (a screen or intercom) - who knows?

Try to band together to give some well expressed and good business sense reasons why this is currently looking like an unsatisfactory (or unprofessional) solution - for the customer or user, primarily. The business probably won't care about the inconvenience to workers.

So she should just suck up a job she hates for a 1/5 of her time that she didn't apply for, to "show flexibility and willing". Umm no. And employers shouldn't expect that of people. It completely unreasonable.

So rather than bitching to colleagues and trying to pressure them into speaking out, put a professional email together, reharding your workload and say that you can't manage it, and ask for support and or some of the additional workload removed from you?

You come across as very immature in your way of handling this.

Sorry but you do sound like a trouble maker and moaner!

What's the actual issue with covering reception for 1 day per week? When you say it's beneath you is very telling, no job should be beneath you, as a team you should pull together and be preared to do anything. For instance, I litter pick if I notice litter outside, not my job, but happy to do it so it helps.

If you need training / a guide / a FAQ then start to collect what you need support with. For instance - I bet the questions you get asked are the same say 5-10 questions, therefore start writing down anything your not sure of and get support with it.

This is your chance to show your willingness, adaptability and initiative.

Also agree re PP, Teams is NOT the place to raise anything! Put it in an email.

The business sounds like piss takers. They just don't want to pay for a full time person on reception.

It's the first impression of any business, why put people on there who don't have the answers.