AIBU about job?

[Dhapeer]

I started a new job 6 months ago. I was interviewed by the office manager, my manager and a director. It was casually alluded to that everyone pitches in with taking calls etc.
On my first day, it became apparent that while doing your job, they also have this 'virtual' reception which is where your phone rings every time a reception phone in any of the offices nationally rings. You are expected to take some of these calls.
I can not describe the stress of being in the middle of something and having to answer reception calls.
Ok, so I got used to that and accepted it.
Last week, we had an admin meeting and we were told that we now have to do the following as well:

1. Offer to do incoming/outcoming post when receptionist is on leave
2. Listen out for the doorbell ringing and answer the door if no-one is at the 4 desks behind reception. I sit about 30 seconds walk from the reception door.
3. Make teas and coffees for meetings in the absence of the receptionist.

I have 22 years administrative experience and am supposed to be a Team Administrator for a team of 5 building surveyors. I also have PA duties for my Director.

Would any of you do this? I have handed in my notice to my manager by text and have rang HR and am waiting to hear back.

FFS, they are paying me 28k to answer phones and make tea?

Am I the unreasonable one given that NONE of this was indicated in the interview and is not on my job description?

Depends. If it's not in your contract then you're entitled not to do it. If they want to change your contract then you're entitled to refuse and I think they then have to make you redundant, but do check that.

I’m a lawyer and I still answer the door when no one else is in the office, and the reception phone eventually diverts to mine if no one else is around to pick it up. I wouldn’t be too bothered about it. Is it happening so much that it’s interfering with your ability to do your other tasks? If so you wouldn’t be unreasonable to discuss this with your supervisor.

I really don't understand the "stress" of this. Everyone in our place including MD makes tea and answers door etc where necessary. Is there a particular reason why you feel singled out by this and hence think it is unfair? Are you being asked when no one else is?

I’m on a much higher salary than you, OP, and I still answer the phone/door when required and take my turn making tea and coffee for meetings if the receptionist is off. I don’t get why you find it so stressful.

The phone rings around 100 times a day, maybe 400 times, I haven't counted. While it's ringing, you're waiting for a receptionist to pick it up, if they don't, you do. Yes, it is jarring, disruptive and irritating. You're constantly stressed by the sheer bloody sound of it. If it's your sole job to answer the phone, then you do it. But, if you do answer the phone, you can get a call asking you to look up a project, which in some cases you can't do, say for e.g. you're putting a new project on the system. The roles are not compatible.

I'm an administrator to 5 and PA to two.

At last week's Admin meeting, the director chairing the meeting actually said, let's call her Louise, 'Louise answers more calls than anyone else'. FFS she's the receptionist! I replied in anger, well I'm sure I send out more letters than Louise!

Sounds like they need to organise their reception better. If they have 4 reception desks they should be able to organise it so there is always at least one person on reception. It’s totally shit they can’t seem to manage that! what sort of a circus are they running? Where are all the receptionists?

I personally don’t think I would hand my notice in for that. But if it’s enough to push you over the edge then you do you. You have to be the one to live with it.

Btw they won’t change so I think giving your notice and moving on is the right thing.

There is one receptionist and then a sort of a front line of administrators. However, they now want us, in a different division of the company, to also cover if the 4 aren't at their desk. How would you all feel swivelling in your desk every time the blooming door bell rings to see if anyone has answered it, while you're also doing your own actual job. It's fucking ridiculous.

You're being ridiculous.

I know they won't change which is why I've handed in my notice. Boss rang me back 5 minutes ago and was shocked. What he's blooming shocked about I don't know.

I agree it’s ridiculous. The company sounds far too big to have just one receptionist.

HR lady said she'd call me back in the next 20 minutes, she's going to talk to the Head of HR to see why we're being asked to do this. No doubt they'll circle the wagons.

I AM a director, and earn £52k a year. I wouldn't have a great impression of an employee who thought they were too good to help cover the three additional tasks you mention in your OP when the receptionist is absent. The receptionist is on leave, what, 5 weeks a year?

The phone situation does sound unusual and unproductive, because you can't practically help most of the callers, I imagine. I would be suggesting solutions to that.

The company has about 6 offices, 6 receptionists and umpteen administrators. Except the administrators have to do receptionist duties in addition to their own work.

I imagine he's shocked because it's pretty unsual to hand in your notice about something so petty without trying to organise a solution first.

Most employees are capable of adjusting to minor interruptions to their work.

It's A disruptive and B beneath me. I know that's not going to endear me to anyone, but for fucks sake........

This isn't a minor interruption! It's a phone constantly ringing and for every call, you're wondering, is anyone going to answer that or will I. Probably 4 - 500 times a day. How is that not stressful?

Disruptive yes that's very annoying but beneath you??????

YANBU. You're getting 100+ interruptions a day and that's ridiculous. There's no way to get anything done.

The equivalent is saying to some guy digging a hole, in addition to digging, you have to watch out for the phones, the doorbell, do the post and make tea.

Yes, beneath me. I started off on reception 22 years ago and swore I'd never do it again when I was promoted. I never have until now, 22 years experience later!

So the phone rings and you have no idea if the receptionist is at their desk or not and have to guess if one of the other 30 or so people are about to answer it or not.

Not great for clients either is it, ringing to speak with X, gets Y, was previously speaking with Z, no-one is sure if Z is at their desk. Y can’t perform the task the client needs as already in the middle of another task that can’t be shut down. So stupid.