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?

I have left my job.

RING RING

RING RING

RING RING

RING RING

Yanbu about the phones. Reception should be covering each other.
28k for admin (especially without finance/payroll) is a good salary though.

Now - all you lot who think that's ok to work through ALL DAY EVERY DAY and wouldn't find that disruptive and want it to change - I just don't believe you'd cope with it at all.

OP - good luck and hopefully you find a better job very soon.
I'm just amazed you lasted 6 months !! I know I wouldn't have !

Lol @ Liz

You absolutely managed to demonstrate it. That's what it's like all day long.

Also, I bet your boss isn't as distraught as you think. Just pissed off he has to spend money recruiting again. No one is irreplaceable.

I don't think anyone is disputing that constant phones are annoying and distracting.

People who find phones ringing that annoying just shouldn't be working in a large office. Its part of the job. Surely its disruptive whether you have to answer them or not.

LIVVI1234 Yup-I agree. £28k is a decent salary but not high enough to warrant the OP's ego. I work in admin and often help cover reception. No probs. I used to have a really good job c£40/50k a year but am now back to admin due to a variety of circumstances. I don't think answering the phone or covering reception is beneath me.

No, he is. As I said, my predecessor accused him and others of racism. 13 complaints, none of which were upheld by the company and she was eventually fired. He found me easy to work with, so I am guessing he is fucking terrified as to who he'll get next. He was lovely to work for so I really can't fault him. As you are all so gleefully telling me however, I'm utterly replaceable.

Thank you Duchess! I'm also the one who does everything the most and the only one who speaks up to object.

Well I work in an accounts department, and I'd be seriously pissed off if I was told I had to ad-hoc answer the general reception calls - incredibly disruptive and distracting. If you are concentrating on reconciling something, the last thing you need is to have your train of thought interrupted by someone about a random topic you know nothing about.

Over the years I've managed to develop very selective hearing and can now filter out extraneous office noise, including unanswered phones

Gromance02 - exactly. I work in admin too so I understand (I don't have 22 yrs experience though!). Its just part of the role.

As you are all so gleefully telling me however, I'm utterly replaceable.

Not you, everyone. But it is a gigantic pain recruiting and also stupidly expensive so we all prefer not to if possible, and that can mean being a little disingenuous about how much someone who is threatening to leave is valued.

The thing is, that I do all of these extra things, more than anyone else, but it's just stressing me out so I had to leave. It's done now! Uppity as I may be! I've resigned and they have gleefully accepted.

Well they clearly are willing to take the financial hit to get rid of me ;) Gleefully.

No-one is irreplaceable. Even heart surgeons. I agree with the issues you raise regarding the phone. It is just your attitude that is a bit off.

It costs them 24k to recruit someone apparently we were told. They've just cost themselves 24k plus everything I do. It really genuinely is their loss. I'm only me, but I'm damned good at what I do.

Do you all work in London? I've never seen an admin job at that amount up north, unless it's admin manager of a bigger company.

I'm in Glasgow and on not far off £28k as an administrator. My colleagues are all on between £20k and £35k in administrative roles.

It really genuinely is their loss. I'm only me, but I'm damned good at what I do.
Except making tea, answering the phone, or any element of teamwork it seems.
Your attitude beggars belief.
Keep telling yourself it’s their loss, I doubt anyone else sees it that way.

Total bollocks that it costs £24k to recruit someone, especially someone on £28k.

I'm not disputing you have been told that, but they are either- A, entirely inept at thier recruitment process or B, liars.

I’m a business administrator and earn £17.5k a year but that’s pro rated as I work part time, full time would be £35k per year. I’m based in the South West.

Why is my salary relevant? I only mentioned it because surely they can employ someone to make tea cheaper than 28k. But if you all want to post your salaries....... lol