To think this is really lazy ?

[TheDogAteTheHomework]

DD 1 has finally had an appointment through to see a medical specialist.

I phoned the school to inform that DD wouldn't be at school on a certain day, receptionist stopped me and said 'Could you email this date in and why ? I don't want to have to write it down and pass the message on, if you email it in then I can just forward it on to the appropriate person.'
Me: 'Um isn't that you?'
Receptionist: 'Yes, dear but I don't like taking messages over the phone. You'll find the information and the email on our website. Cheerio'

Me : Er ok

That's being a tad bloody lazy isn't it ?!

Phone her back and say "I don't use email. I'm giving you this information now. Cheerio Dear."

YANBU

Very lazy IMO. Fair enough if you'd tried to tell her teacher at a busy time (drop off / pick up), but a receptionist sitting in an office should be able to pass on a phone message.

I would rather have it documented than a phone call

Probably so there's a email trail rather than just a message taken over the phone with no "proof" there was a phone call?

I used to always ask for things to be emailed to me to confirm telephone conversations so it could be saved to the file.

Is it possible the message also needs to go to the teacher, headteacher, and possibly they need a written record for attendance management files?
If the above is not applicable, then yes it does sound lazy.
At our school we just used to take the letter in to the teacher for her to make a note in the register (though this policy may have changed as we haven't taken one in this year) and she would inform the relivent people.

I have a funny feeling that this is one of those "If I did the receptionist's job for a week I'd understand why she is asking me to do this thing."

I expect there is a really good logic in it, somewhere, and not laziness.

Do you think, in a roundabout way, she's really asking for proof in writing? Our school has really clamped down on pupil absence and want proof of everything. They know my daughter has a chronic condition and at one point they wouldn't have asked for proof but now I have to fetch in the letter so they can photocopy it.

She should have said "Can you please email the details for our records too?" and OP wouldn't have batted an eyelid.

Saying she doesn't like taking messages on the pone is a bit like a hairdresser saying she doesn't like cutting hair!

That's the letter for the hospital appointment btw, not proof that she has the condition

If the email comes from you and then there's a query about it, there's no question about it being because the receptionist transcribed something wrong.

"I don't like taking messages over the phone" was a bit odd though.

I can understand her wanting an email for the file, or as back up if there's some lack of communication issue or somesuch.

But her way of asking for an email was incredibly rude and patronising.

Badly worded, but things like that need to be in writing.

I am a school admin and sitting at my desk right now I have had several calls like that today and shockingly I have written them down and delivered to the appropriate person so no it's not a school receptionist thing!

I agree with some of the other posts, I think it's so that there's an email trail to prove firstly that you have given the information and secondly that she has processed it correctly.

Bit tiresome to have to email them after already calling them but it covers your back too if there's any issue with your DD absence at a later date.