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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think a work experience should make the tea?

189 replies

LouiseD29 · 31/05/2013 12:39

I work in a large-ish agency in central London. It's fairly competitive and as a result we have a steady stream of youngsters all keen for a work experience placement. Some good, some not so good, but I am increasingly noticing that most of them NEVER offer to do a tea round for the team!

It's not like I'm expecting them to be churning out six rounds a day for 25 people, but AIBU to think that it shouldn't be beyond them to spot that 1. People here like tea; 2. If you do a nice thing for people it shows manners and team spirit and they're more likely to remember you and bear you in mind for future vacancies and 3. Everyone else has made a round today so GO AND PUT THE KETTLE ON!

When I was starting out I was constantly looking for opportunities to impress and wouldn't have dreamt of letting someone more senior make me a cup of tea.

AIBU and hopelessly old-fashioned, or do these youngsters have no clue?

OP posts:
DontmindifIdo · 31/05/2013 13:15

Actually, YANBU - because an important part of work experience isn't just learning how to do the job, but understanding how offices work and how to work along side people who are different ages, backgrounds, seniority etc. If you work in an office where everyone has regular cups of tea/coffee and it's clear people aren't just going getting one for themselves but taking it in turns to get them for everyone, they you should realise that you should join in.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 31/05/2013 13:16

Work experience is supposed to give them an insight into working life. Having them permanently making tea , buying doughnuts, washing up teaches them nothing. They can already do that. It's lazyness to not give them an all round experience of what the company does.

I've been there. I was more than happy to help out and make drinks but if that's all you end up doing then in sorry but that's shit. Companies shouldn't take them
On if there's nothing that they can actually show them other than cleaning or drink making.

ubik · 31/05/2013 13:16

Make your own sodding tea

Groovee · 31/05/2013 13:16

I don't drink hot drinks so would expect them to be made for me or be expected to make it unless I was having a skive.

I did make a cuppa for my colleague the other morning as I was making snack and she was busy doing PLP's with the children.

caramelwaffle · 31/05/2013 13:17

Asking senior members of staff if they would like to delegate more menial tasks to them also gets their face known.

hwjm1945 · 31/05/2013 13:17

It is an age thing.I am a lawyer with twenty years plus experience.If in a meeting with experts and clients an barristers, I will offer to pour drinks drinks eTc even if at barristers' chambers,I am in effect there to service my client an facilitate,the barrister is there to opine as is the expert.so,was at such a meeting this week with twenrysomething lawyer in my team who I manage who merrily parked his arse and waited for his coffee until I told him to offer drinks with me!

caramelwaffle · 31/05/2013 13:18

Menial work tasks, I meant to say.

Pigsmummy · 31/05/2013 13:18

Just ask them to make a round of tea? When I was a work experience I think I made every cup of tea tbh but I think I was to first.

Punkatheart · 31/05/2013 13:19

Out-dated concept. Not paid? They are there to learn a job. Why can't people make or buy their own tea?

Also it is extremely dehumanising to call them 'work experience' - what - not even a person now?

I personally hate all this internment stuff that can be very exploitative. Creatives in particular are treated like slaves and then not treated well. Saying 'it's very competitive' is not an excuse. People should be respected in the workplace and get something valuable for their time.

rubyflipper · 31/05/2013 13:20

Yanbu - doing the tea round is an excellent way to get your face known and break the ice with people.
I did it when I was a workie. After a few rounds, you can ask questions about what a person does and hopefully land more interesting tasks.

expatinscotland · 31/05/2013 13:20

A tea round? Wtf, if you want a tea get it yourself.

HabbaDabba · 31/05/2013 13:20

The last time I was part of a 'tea round' was about 10 years ago. One guy was a prolific drinker (about a cup a hour) and he would expect you to get your round in even though you didn't fancy one just yet. Then there was the team leader who thought that as 'management' he shouldn't be expected to make tea. When I opted out I was told that I wasn't a 'team player'.

Luckily, all the jobs I had since was get your own. One place the boss liked to get Starbucks coffee twice a day on some days when his calendar was light. Not only would he get it for the team he would pay. What a boss eh?

Boomba · 31/05/2013 13:20

probably depends on the work setting as well

where we have had work experience people, if they offered to make tea, everyone would be Shock Hmm It would be completely inappropriate....

but there are lots of other 'menial' work related tasks where they could showtheir initiative

Original poster
LouiseD29 · 31/05/2013 13:21

Hmm... thanks everyone. It's not that I expect them to make the tea as such (I make it often, as does everyone else), it's just that I'm surprised that more of them don't spot that it's a simple way to make a good impression and that getting on is not just about sitting at your computer slaving away (there's plenty of that too), but about connecting with the team and understanding 'how things work'.

Plus it would be bloody lovely to have a cup of tea.

I do ask occasionally, but then I feel mean because it isn't as several people have kindly pointed out, part of their job, it's just a nice thing to do! Even worse are 'selfish tea' makers who sneak back to their desk with a cup without asking anyone else...

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 31/05/2013 13:21

So, yes YABU and old-fashioned.

Original poster
LouiseD29 · 31/05/2013 13:23

rubyflipper - exactly! It's the most basic obvious way you can show initiative and get yourself known! I suppose it's that I'm talking about really, rather than the tea per se.

Although I do love a nice cup of tea.

OP posts:
Boomba · 31/05/2013 13:23

oh jeez....this is why i hated office work

'self tea makers' Hmm

some times people just want a drink, withoutt the song and dance

it has no greater meaning

you place too much importance on tea

FutTheShuckUp · 31/05/2013 13:23

If it would be lovely to have a cup of tea go and make one- simple

AprilFoolishness · 31/05/2013 13:23

Yanbu. To think it would be a good idea and a good way of them getting to know everyone in the office

But making 25 different drinks for 25 people whose names you probably barely now let a,be their particular drink foibles sounds like a nightmare, don't blame them for dodging it!

ToysRLuv · 31/05/2013 13:24

Forgot to say that I agree about work experience not being an exercise in slave labour and menial tasks, but the attitude is hard to change. Every office I have ever worked in saved the most tedious and horrible tasks (filing, and disposing of old files, working in a basement alone all day to do it while getting dusty, sweaty and vampiric, etc. ) for trainees/work experience people. I'd been happier making cups of tea, and chatting to people about their tea preferences, quite frankly. That's why is sounds an awful lot like slacking to me

jenduck · 31/05/2013 13:25

In the office where I work (admittedly smaller with only 10 people), all the people who make drinks (the admin bods rather than senior partners) have their 'time' at which they make drinks. So, I do a round at 10, somebody else at 11, another at 12.15 & another at 3. Each person likes to do that to stretch their legs & have a change if scene. So there wouldn't really be a chance for another round to fit in, iyswim.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 31/05/2013 13:26

But it's your job to show them. Do you not remember how scary it was to be in their position. Worried you would get it wrong or that you would be disturbing them to ask if they wanted a drink. Or that you knew where nothing was or who anyone was or if u were allowed to leave the desk that much etc.

Making drinks doesn't break the ice as often no one even looks up from their desk.

DryCounty79 · 31/05/2013 13:27

In our office, we always tell them that the most important job is making the tea once a day Grin

ToysRLuv · 31/05/2013 13:28

Wheresmy: That's what I tried to get across, but got ignored.. Oh well..

Bowlersarm · 31/05/2013 13:29

YANBU

But someone needs to go through it with them. They may feel shy or not drink tea themselves, but it is something they should be able to do.