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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Making coffee in work- non drinker

439 replies

Winchester89 · 14/08/2018 14:59

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!?

OP posts:
Original poster
Winchester89 · 14/08/2018 18:17

**role not told!!

OP posts:
ShumpaLumpa · 14/08/2018 18:18

CherryPavlova

You were rude to your manager but he was being cowardly for not tackling it formerly.

Cherry OPs manager is a woman actually

You thinking it's a man is very interesting and is very telling

And I think if anyone is a jobsworth here it's the OPs colleagues.

Pls ignore punctuation phone acting up

ShumpaLumpa · 14/08/2018 18:19

. It's a very specific type of told not a general office, most of my work is smaller projects, database and finance things.

Careful OP you'll be accused of drip feeding now 😂

katielouise3 · 14/08/2018 18:20

@Winchester89

I think you are very rude. So what if you don't drink coffee or tea? Wouldn't hurt for you to be courteous to your workmates.

You're not going to go far there, or get on with people long-term, if you don't be more of a team player. You wouldn't last five minutes where I work,.

Original poster
Winchester89 · 14/08/2018 18:20

@ShumpaLumpa
True, I just wanted to point out I am not an intern doing teas, photocopying and post.

OP posts:
AliceRR · 14/08/2018 18:20

I know in some offices the secretaries make the drinks eg in my husband’s firm. It’s not like that at my place. In my team people see to themselves but in many teams people take it in turns. If yours is a firm where the secretaries / admin ass are expected to make coffee then that’s one thing but then I don’t think they can say it’s part of your job description. Maybe the admin do it for meetings like how client services might in my firm? Otherwise if it’s just team members taking it in turns then I don’t think you need to do it if you don’t drink it

Original poster
Winchester89 · 14/08/2018 18:21

@katielouise3
Funnily enough it's never been an issue in any other place I have worked.

OP posts:
ShumpaLumpa · 14/08/2018 18:21

Katie Louise I've read some of your other posts and you've a cheek accusing OP of being rude!

ShumpaLumpa · 14/08/2018 18:22

True, I just wanted to point out I am not an intern doing teas, photocopying and post.

That's what I thought Op, people are mistaking you for an intern (and massively minimising importance of an admin assistant)

katielouise3 · 14/08/2018 18:24

And I would be saying the same if it was a man!' 🙄 I don't like rude obnoxious behaviour from EITHER gender.

Pywife2 · 14/08/2018 18:24

As an admin, I expect to do administrative work in the office. I don't think it's my job to make the tea and coffee or wash up after everyone else. Or do their ironing, look after their children, clean their shoes, etc.

Most places I've worked, my boss has been very careful about expecting admin staff to make the coffee, because it's such an obvious insult that it's become a cliche.

On the other hand, I'd expect to take turns with the rest of the team like I do in my current workplace. Because we all get on okay and want to keep it that way. When I was giving up coffee, my easiest way was to drink only water at work and it got me out of doing huge rounds of tea and coffee for a whole office full of people who were actually monitoring each other in hopes that someone would make fewer cups than everyone else.

These things seem innocent office rituals but are actually about setting a pecking order sometimes - hence all the very important people on here who think it only natural that the office skivvy admin worker should make all the drinks.

For one thing, I usually have actual work to do, with deadlines as often as not.

LeftRightCentre · 14/08/2018 18:24

katie works in Cloud Cuckooland where people think it's awesome to litter our natural spaces and heap scorn on random internet sprites who happen to live in flats.

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

This is how it is where I work. More forward-thinking, saves times and petty feelings and misunderstandings under a silly hot drink. Everyone gets their own drinks, lunch, snacks. Imagine! In 2018, actually being self-sufficient.

Whatififall · 14/08/2018 18:25

I only drink cold water at work but if I’m going to the kitchen I offer to make a round of drinks. I’m also included when colleagues make drinks.
I’m also admin and I occasionally get asked if there’s a meeting or visitors to make coffees and I don’t mind. It’s not often though.

katielouise3 · 14/08/2018 18:25

Oh do bore off @shumpalumpa 🙄

katielouise3 · 14/08/2018 18:26

You bore off too @leftrightcentre

Bringing up a poster's posts on old threads (to attack them) is fucking pathetic and proves you have got nothing else to say.

TornFromTheInside · 14/08/2018 18:27

I cannot abide that 'team player' crap. Sick to death of HR and management teams churning it out, it's a crock of old shite.

Offices need maverick loners who just do their job, and do it well too.

Fuck their team bonding sessions, and new workflow initiatives and motivating slogans on the wall and tidy desk policies and cc'ing all and cultural awareness sessions and online training and...

++ User diconnected by IT spies ++

ShumpaLumpa · 14/08/2018 18:27

LeftRight so tell us more about KatieLouise and her littering. I missed that!

BoneyBackJefferson · 14/08/2018 18:28

TornFromTheInside

Offices need maverick loners who just do their job, and do it well too.

Thats a contradiction.

LeftRightCentre · 14/08/2018 18:29

You bore off too @leftrightcentre**

Personal insults are not allowed, katie, just a little reminder Wink. Pointing out that you are Mary Quite Contrary on EVERY thread you post on and think it's a terrific idea to pollute our environment, however, is not.

TornFromTheInside · 14/08/2018 18:29

I'm not answering you. I'm on a break!

dellie84 · 14/08/2018 18:29

If you want to be well thought of you do it!
It totally gives off the wrong impression if you won’t help out your manager!

katielouise3 · 14/08/2018 18:30

Well you should know LEFT, as you got a nasty post aimed at me deleted yesterday!

sunsunsunsunsun · 14/08/2018 18:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LeftRightCentre · 14/08/2018 18:31

LeftRight so tell us more about KatieLouise and her littering. I missed that!

Oh, it's on the thread about the twats who have been leaving fucking plastic fairy doors and tatt in public parks and forests and the fact that such rubbish is a threat to wildlife but katie of course thinks that fact isn't true despite evidence and has yet to post on any thread without being insulting to the OP but then cries she's attacked regularly.

katielouise3 · 14/08/2018 18:32

@Leftrightandcentre

You think it's a great idea to pollute our environment.

What the fuck are you going on about? I have never said I think we should pollute our environment.

have you been on the sauce leftrightandcentre ???

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