Making coffee in work- non drinker

[Winchester89]

Right, started a new job couple of months ago. I love it, everyone's really nice. I'm the admin assistant for a small team of 4 other people.
Anyway- I don't drink tea or coffee. Therefore have never offered to make anyone any as I really hate doing it and don't think I should if I'm not also drinking it! Couple of the team made some subtle comments that I've just ignored or laughed off.
So today- my manager is on her way out to a meeting with other team member - mug in hand goes- oh we were just saying we should get you making coffees!
I replied automatically 'not happening' and laughed. And she looked taken aback by it and then carried on to the meeting.
Am I being unreasonable in not wanting to become the tea lady for the team considering I don't even make the stuff for myself!?

@Mrsramsayscat
As I've said- there are no 'turns'

@ShumpaLumpa
He is ace haha- the some Power by little mix always reminds me of him- his fave little phrase to me and my sis is 'you've got the power' haha

Jacques, ok, not you!

I think, based on what OP has said, there would be no benefit to her taking part in a reciprocal drinks run.

A drinks run should be in the interest of all, not the many.

I work in a school now, and the culture is that everyone gets their own drinks. However, I was an intern in an office before I went into teaching and it was my job to get the teas and coffees as I was the most junior, and my time, while valuable, wasn't worth as much as that of the most senior. Not having to get the drinks in was a perk as you worked your way up.

To the person sho posted the list of tasks women shouldn't do - I don't think that this would work for an admin assistant, as those jobs are the nature of the role! Young men don't get asked as not as many men are office juniors/admin assistants. Your manager is making it clear that this is part of your role. Its not an unreasonable request for the most junior team member, and most people don't stay as an admin assistant forever so you will work your way up and not have to do it forever.

I also had to take the post to the post office and run other errands too - a total pain in the neck but, again, part of life when starting out. If you become too big for your boots, you may lose your job - remember there are no employment rights against dismissal for the first two years. Better to get on with it and work your way up.

Wow! So many outdated and traditional views on this thread.

I'm senior and I prefer to mentor those junior to me, so they learn and gain experience not turn them into my coffee slave! Especially if they never drink it themselves.

@Jasharps brought a smile to my face! More like you, please

It seems like you do NOT think you are above this task, but you may have given the impression you are. I would clear that up with boss in a good natured way.

skivvy

This is actually what junior support staff are there for within reason. Nobody expects you to clean the toilet or polish their shoes, but if you're above coffee or a photocopy what are you there taking up money and space for?

Many of us have been there, I did my share of menial stuff starting out, it is well worth dealing with it and working hard at the things you are given, even if they are menial. Which brings me onto:

profitable time

Support staff aren't making the money, they aren't contributing unless they support. They are literally there to do things so that you don't want the profitable employees spending their time on, to contribute by freeing them up.

If I found myself or another member of senior staff spending time making coffee, doing photocopies running a report to finance, or whatever else while someone paid to be an assistant had directly refused to do that task, I have to admit I would think that was silly and be wondering why I had that assistant.

@OP - I would clear up this misunderstanding and offer to make it, get someone to show you. It is way better to have a laugh and a good-natured convo with boss about not knowing how to make tea very well, than it is to get negative feedback from the boss at your next review.

I don't drink it or make drinks so I'm not not offering when I do my own- and they are not offering me when they do mine

See to me that doesn’t seem like a workplace with a community feel. I’d always ask if anyone wanted a drink if I was going to the kitchen/drinks machine. Just like I’d ask if anyone wanted anything from the shop etc. The people I work with have always reciprocated.

Jacques - milk no sugar please

Jacques - milk no sugar please

No probs. I do need mine to steep a while though!

I'd see it as a bit of a skive but the most hot drinks we make each time is 7 cups anyway. It also gives me an excuse to nibble on biscuits when no-one is watching.

+slides a Jaffa cake to Jacques+ You'll do for me!

@ImAIdoot
I'm not a PA - there's nothing personal about my assistance it is administrative

Notmany the OP's manager didn't give her an instruction. She made, in my opinion, a snide passive aggressive remark.

'oh we were just saying we should get you making coffees!'

Were you indeed? Who is we? Have said 'we' not limbs and brains enough to make their own hot beverages, especially in light of the fact the OP clearly doesn't drink them herself? Do people reach a certain level at work and simply forget how to boil water in an electric kettle?

The OP has made no mention of having 'make the teas and coffees' written into her contract, and nor does it sound like she has ever been informed by her manager that it falls to her to do so. If it is one of her responsibilities, why wasn't it mentioned a couple of months ago when the OP first started? If this is the case, the manager should be taking the OP to the side now and explaining that part of her role includes making the teas and coffees, not making snippy comments. Be a manager and manage ffs. I'm sorry but dropping bitchy hints isn't managing. It's avoiding your duties and hoping people read your mind.

OP maybe you should get yourself a little wheeled tea trolley, a nice tight pencil skirt and a typewriter. You could 60s the shit out of the gig.

I think it makes sense to make your own & offer to make for those immediately around you. I'd just explain why you responded as you did - you're not being unreasonable.

Where I work even the ceo & other directors make their own and generally you offer to make one for the rest of your team if you're making one.

I go through phases of drinking tea at work, if someone offers me a cuppa and I accept, I’ll make sure I make a round the next time.

I'd take a turn in making tea or coffee at work sometimes even if I didn't drink it, it's a friendly thing to do. Wouldn't collect the cups and wash up though.

@MaryDollNesbitt
That last bit made me chuckle. I'll turn up tomorrow in my apron with my own China tea set

good for you op. i dont see why they should Think they should Get you to make the hot drinks!

MaryDoll, I thought the opposite. Rather than the manager having to be blunt and say "make the drinks from now on", she is hoping to get the point across in a more casual and indirect way. That way, the OP (if she had been anything like me when I was junior) would have taken the hint and started doing it, while still saving face.

OP, the only reason they expect you to do this is because you are the junior. As Imaldoot says, your whole role is supporting higher ups so they can do their tasks. Its a boring and thankless role, and I hated it when I did it. However, doing the donkeywork at the start enables you to get a good reference to move on and up. If you are an admin assistant, you may be going for a job as office manager in a couple of years. Then there won't be any pressure on you to do tea making, as someone else starting out will be there to pay their own dues.

You aren't being asked to skivvy for any reason more personal than the fact that you are starting out in a junior role. No one there looks down on you if you do the drinks, as they will all have done it themselves when starting out!

harshbuttrue1980
I work in a school now, and the culture is that everyone gets their own drinks.

I am quite lucky in that each department in the school has an office, the rule of thumb is the first one in puts the kettle on and tea/coffee and milk in the cups.

Whoever is closest pours the water.

Also form a business point of view as people are goin down that road its more efficient for one person to make a round of drinks than five people doing it separately.

And surely its no different to doing photocopying for other people, which I assume you do without a problem?

If your attitude came across at interview, I wouldn’t employ you. I certainly wouldn’t promote you. It’s called teamwork and makes it a nicer place to work. Lots of jobsworth individuals make for long days. You were rude to your manager but he was being cowardly for not tackling it formerly.
Of course you should take your turn. I expect my junior staff to make teas and coffees for meetings and for visitors. I’m more than happy to reciprocate occasionally too and even bake cakes sometimes because helping, being kind, joining in are all positive traits in employees.

@harshbuttrue1980
Nope- never done photocopying for anyone. It's a very specific type of told not a general office, most of my work is smaller projects, database and finance things.

@CherryPavlova
If I'm not drinking it and making any for myself there is no 'turn'