What's your unofficial role in work?

[MamaAndTheSofa]

Chatting to a couple of friends the other day, we were discussing how we all have unofficial roles in work - roles that are never in any job description, but which someone has to do.

Mine is "Attender of funerals". When we feel we ought to send someone from the office to a funeral (eg a colleagues mum has died or something), it always ends up being me.

Another friend is the unofficial knot un-tier; if anyone has a knot they can't undo (which seems to happen ridiculously often in his work, as far as I can tell), they come to him and he undoes it.

Another friend is the one who always has hand cream.

What are yours?

Poet

Some of these are great! As to whether men have unofficial jobs, there are definitely plenty in my work who do - although they tend to be DIY-type jobs rather than handing-out-tissues type jobs. In our office it's a man who has the mental list of birthdays and who makes sure a card is sent round in good time for each one.

Snacks manager!! Always some goodies in my drawers! Lols!

Provider of chocolate, sweets & a shoulder to cry on!

Drafter of 'get back in your box' emails to people who have overstepped. I have a way of writing the sort of email where you know you have been firmly put in your place but there's nothing that isn't on the right side of politeness and HR.

Proof-reader.

I’m a qualified proof-reader, but it’s not my job and something I did just for fun. Everything that needs a critical eye, comes to me.

Cleaner of cups and desks

I am the keeper of the tea money.
I make the best carrot cake anyone in my team has ever tasted and frequently am asked to bake one for office social gatherings.
I am often asked for 'what word do I want to say instead of xyz'.

I'm the after thought and Superwoman all rolled into one! That surprisingly is only thought about and missed when I'm on a/l and there's literally nobody else to do my job!! 🙃

Roles not included in my official job description include... therapist, mediator, English school teacher, nurse, coffee maker, designated adult and firefighter.

Cheerleader of the unseen grafters, provider of polo mints and social lubricant for senior people (male or female) who struggle at high profile events.

My role:
Ok. Wait. Is anyone actually dead? No? Ok, well, fuck them. You are doing a magnificent job against all odds and a little error here or there means nothing. Breathe. Do you want me to put a curse on them? Because I will do that. Twice’
Seems to be what I say, on a loop these days!

Unofficial guide to pregnant ladies about maternity leave, as I'm pretty good at money saving tips and knowing all the HR policies (that involve money / some kind of benefit), so I tell them what to be aware of.

Defroster of the freezer.

Sanitary pad buyer.

Once a year that seems to fall to me as a y6 teacher in a primary school.

Stater of the bleeding obvious.

Seems to be valued as brave rather than tactless thankfully. I just prefer to get to the point and I work with a lot of clever people who like to over explain.

Im the midnight coke/coffee dealer till about 5am.

Quiz setter
Book recommender
Restaurant critic
Fact-checker / sceptic
Skincare consultant

Oh I’m the handcream and emergency chocolate lady!!
I have a varied selection of both 😂
Anyone is welcome to help themselves when I’m wfh, it’s all in my top drawer.

I'm the mum handing out advice on WWYD type stuff, work and non-work related stuff. I feel privileged that people ask me tbh

Peacemaker, entertainer, psychologist & Mary Poppins - actually that's all Mary Poppins!

Edited: spelling

Financial and HR adviser to the young uns in the office who aren't clued up about employment, life and savings etc.

Booker in of deliveries as no one else can be bothered.

I used to be the person called upon to un-jam the photocopier.

For a short while I was also 'official operator of the fire alarm' for fire drills - my secret task known only to me and my boss. I had to do it on the sly. One time he asked me to do it right in the middle of a board meeting, with all the big cheeses down from Head Office. That was a lark. They were all really annoyed. 😂
My boss was one of the directors actually in the board meeting at the time so he took the flak for that one. He (quite rightly) pointed out that their evacuation had been a shambles, and that they needed to buck their ideas up.😁

Chief coffee/tea/milk purchaser - if we run out of any of these things, all hell breaks loose!