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AIBU?

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To speak up at work

113 replies

spanieleyes22 · 25/09/2024 16:49

Am so fed up of goody goody people at work. Am getting very worked up about it and I know I need to chill and just let it all flow🤣back story we are having a restructure and were told in a teams chat by manager that there was now a rota for covering reception. I just hate doing it. Just because I'm really busy I have so much to do and the thing is 99.9%of the queries are nothing to do with my role and I don't know the answer. I said this to my manager and she said if you don't know the answer just stick it in the big teams chat and someone will reply. It's really inefficient. I have someone sitting in front of me or standing and they ask me a question and I say sorry I don't know hold on. Then I type the query in the chat and wait for a response which can take a few minutes. Then that person usually has to check something and I'm sat there with the person staring at me and wondering why I'm not doing anything. Other members of my team have all said privately that they don't like doing it but they won't say anything to the managers. Even today a girl on my team volunteered to cover someone and I was like Wtaf. So when an email came round just now outlining the rota for the next 6 weeks I put up a msg saying nobody had told us this was to be a oermanent arrangement and I honestly felt it wasn't the best use of my time. Nobody even gave my comment a thumbs up. They are like little sheep or mice they won't say boo to anyone. I shouldn't have said anything should I. I wish I was meek and mild and didn't care but I do care about doing a good job - and I just feel I'm worth more than a receptionist.

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MaggieLynn · 25/09/2024 17:18

If you want to address it, you need to do it directly with your manager. Doing it in a Teams chat to garner support from the team is ineffective. Be specific on what training you need and what tools will help you to do this aspect of the job effectively.

In the meantime, use your skills to manage the customer in front of you. Find out their question and if you need to ask a question to the Teams chat, manage their expectations. Tell them this can sometimes take a few minutes and you'll get back to them as soon as you can.

spanieleyes22 · 25/09/2024 17:11

I think maybe people are scared. And some just don't care. Both annoy me !!! One guys motto is "ah well I still get paid the same". Drives me nuts I've given up talking to him tbh

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spanieleyes22 · 25/09/2024 17:10

@Cherrysoup yeh well we had to agree to the changes or leave. We were being threatened with redundancy

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spanieleyes22 · 25/09/2024 17:08

Chester23 · 25/09/2024 17:07

I assume you probably have a clause that says something along the lines of and anything else asked of you. I know I have at this and a previous job

Yep lots of stuff like that in new job descriptions

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BobbyBiscuits · 25/09/2024 17:08

It sounds like they're too tight to employ a ft receptionist? Unless it's just literally picking up phones when it rings out and reception is briefly unmanned. I think you should all say you don't have the time to do it.
Why can't they place someone on reception and pay them specifically for that role. Even if they use several part time/casual staff. Who are actually willing to be a receptionist.
Or at least seek consent rather than forcing it on people.

Chester23 · 25/09/2024 17:07

I assume you probably have a clause that says something along the lines of and anything else asked of you. I know I have at this and a previous job

Cherrysoup · 25/09/2024 17:04

spanieleyes22 · 25/09/2024 17:02

I think they cover themselves in the job descriptions. In the restructure we have all
Been given revised job descriptions that are very vague . The original job I applied for didn't have reception in it. I sound moany but I just don't like it and don't want to do it. But nobody has said that except in private so I look like a trouble maker and everyone else is a team player .

They cannot change your job description without your agreement. Speak up, no need to be confrontational or anything!

spanieleyes22 · 25/09/2024 17:02

Cherrysoup · 25/09/2024 16:56

Is there anything in your contract? If not, can you refuse? Has nobody put together an FAQ section for you all to utilise? I’d be seriously unimpressed if a front facing member of staff couldn’t answer a query, you either need training or a permanent receptionist who has been given all the information.

I think they cover themselves in the job descriptions. In the restructure we have all
Been given revised job descriptions that are very vague . The original job I applied for didn't have reception in it. I sound moany but I just don't like it and don't want to do it. But nobody has said that except in private so I look like a trouble maker and everyone else is a team player .

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spanieleyes22 · 25/09/2024 16:59

Well I could but it makes me look like a trouble maker . I think the others hang back and wait for me to say something and in the meantime they are all so goody goody and sucking up to the managers whilst complaining bitterly behind their backs !! I asked for training and that was the response. Ask in the chat.

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Cantalever · 25/09/2024 16:59

What is your actual role, OP? If your job description does not involve reception duties, can you explain to someone higher up (is there someone?) the problem you have highlighted here. Do it in a cheerful, constructive way rather than a complaining one, especially if your workplace is one where people feel constrained for some reason about speaking up. I hope you get heard. It sounds a ridiculously inefficient situation. Miserable to be the only one prepared to put head above parapet.šŸ·

Cherrysoup · 25/09/2024 16:57

spanieleyes22 · 25/09/2024 16:53

I think it's the way it was done as well. Like there should have been a meeting and an explanation. I don't even know is this a permanent thing now or is it until Xmas or what . My managers are just so bad at human relations. But they don't even know as nobody ever says boo to them!!!! They think everything is hunky dory

So tell them?! Looks shit for the business to have people unable to answer.

Cherrysoup · 25/09/2024 16:56

Is there anything in your contract? If not, can you refuse? Has nobody put together an FAQ section for you all to utilise? I’d be seriously unimpressed if a front facing member of staff couldn’t answer a query, you either need training or a permanent receptionist who has been given all the information.

spanieleyes22 · 25/09/2024 16:53

I think it's the way it was done as well. Like there should have been a meeting and an explanation. I don't even know is this a permanent thing now or is it until Xmas or what . My managers are just so bad at human relations. But they don't even know as nobody ever says boo to them!!!! They think everything is hunky dory

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