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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU about job?

555 replies

Dhapeer · 15/10/2018 10:45

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?

OP posts:
twoheaped · 15/10/2018 14:58

There are plenty of capable people out there.
Beats me that some people really think that they are the only person who can do the job well Hmm

Ski4130 · 15/10/2018 15:16

Dhapeer - because a few posters were questioning whether administrators actually earnt the £28k you claimed too. Believe it or not, I was pointing out that you were right. Christ you’re prickly!!

MagentaRocks · 15/10/2018 15:25

If you had posted saying how it is disruptive to your own role and the impact it was having in that way you would have got very different answers than saying it is beneath you.

My staff appreciate me doing part of their role when demand requires it and they respect me for it and because I show I do not ask them to do something I am not willing to do myself. I don't think it is beneath me to do these things. There are times when I can't help them because my own role has to take priority because of the nature of the role. It is a reactive role where I have to manage high pressure situations but when I can I muck in with everyone else.

RedSuitcase · 15/10/2018 15:36

You're clearly not as great as you think you are if they are happy about your resignation.
If you're half as abrasive and gobby as you're coming across here, then I can see why they are happy.

NightAndShiningArmour · 15/10/2018 15:39

Do you have to work a notice period? Or are you able to leave immediately?

redexpat · 15/10/2018 15:57

I think your choice of language was a bit UR but overall you are not.
Constant interruptions -> stress
Noise when you are already stressed -> more stress
Not being presented with the full picture of the job at interview - well tricky to say. It seems that they think their culture is normal and you dont. Has anyone ever told you that the interview is a 2 way thing and you are supposed to interview them too? It was a revelation to me!
You have raised the issue 3 times and notjing has been changed. Ergo they dont cate about your mental state. Which is frustrating when you otherwise enjoy your job and have a good working relationship with your boss.
I like that part of your motivation to work is a challenge.

Honestly since Ive left the uk Ive realised that the collective self worth in britain is seriously low and I wish more people would say no thats not good enough for me instead of having a race to the bottom.

Gottagetmoving · 15/10/2018 16:03

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

I'm moving up there.... Grin

swingofthings · 15/10/2018 16:18

OP, you're going to learn that no one is owed anything in the world of employment. You wanting and demanding to only do challenging tasks won't get you there. Most people would love to only do what challenges them and let others do the frap jobs. As it is, those who get the challenges are either those who kiss ass or those who who show they deserve it by showing they are a team player and prepared to be a good with the bad.

I had a young lad who was as self centered and thinking highly of himself as you seem to be. Like you I am guessing, he was a very clever person who could deliver excellent work however his sense of entitlement ruined his ability to fit well in the business. When a promotion came up, he lost it against a staff who was not as confident and efficient as him BUT who was a team player, prepared to take advice and learn and was much more like by everyone. He went mental, tried to claim he was discriminated against and the lot. He could contemplate that it take more than just efficiency to make a good employee. His abity to learn was limited by his arrogance.

Original poster
Dhapeer · 15/10/2018 16:28

I do all the shit. I don't like it. I have left. End of.

OP posts:
SD1978 · 15/10/2018 17:47

I understand you're frustrated, but the foot stamp won't change anything, Except you now no longer have any job. Good luck in the search for the next one, I hope it doesn't take too long to find something you believe to be worthwhile.

DitheringBlidiot · 15/10/2018 17:53

YANBU unreasonable to be annoyed by the phone. YABU unreasonable to say it’s beneath you. Say no one ever answers the phone and no one can contact the office/s, the company will stop getting work and you won’t have a job. 28k to answer the phones doesn’t sound that bad to me tbf. YABU to not ask if there is a solution before handing your notice in

RedPanda2 · 15/10/2018 17:55

I'd make coffee for £28k tbh. Everyone pitches in where I work, I'm in a senior role but if I've got time on s Friday I'll vaccuum my office if the cleaning staff are short, or cover admin if needed. If I do cover admin I let my manager know that I can't do xx today because the phone was the priority.
It's team work. If you're not happy then leaving is the best thing.

DitheringBlidiot · 15/10/2018 17:57

My boss is on 50+k, I’ve lost count of the cups of tea she’s made me and the amount of times she’s refilled my water bottle

Polarbearflavour · 15/10/2018 17:57

More fool the people who sign themselves up to be the office cleaner! I would not be doing that.

The OP has left her job. Good for you OP!

Polarbearflavour · 15/10/2018 18:09

Admin is largely seen as women’s work. In a previous non-admin role, as one of the only women in the team, they wanted me to refill/fix the printers, get drinks for meetings etc. The men were never asked! I just kept saying no and eventually they got the message.

When I left, I made sure the printers were out of paper and not working. Oops.

kitkatsky · 15/10/2018 18:17

They need to organise the phone systems better. In my place there's a support team that answer vast majority of calls and pass on to relevant person if it isn't first line resolution. If all 3 are on phones it comes thru to my team on a round robin basis. This is fair and ensures customer satisfaction which keeps us all in our jobs. I understand you not wanting to be the receptionist but picking up calls when she's on lunch/ leave/ another call is for benefit of customer, as are the other jobs you mentioned. Without customers we wouldn't have a job. Like you, I struggled a bit at first with answering phones when in middle of sth else so my tip is to have a pad of paper next to you to write down what needs to be actioned from phone calls so you can follow up later. It helps

LizB62A · 15/10/2018 18:17

"Everyone pitches in where I work, I'm in a senior role but if I've got time...."

That's the point though - you're happy to help if you've done your work and you've got time.
Would you be happy though if pitching in was expected at all times and prevented you from doing your actual job?

kitkatsky · 15/10/2018 18:18

Wow. Just read your further comments. Beneath you? You're special aren't you!

krazycatlady · 15/10/2018 18:31

Well done for handing in your notice . Like you say how are you expected to do your job if you constantly have to answer phone / door and make tea. I work in accounts last job worked for was expected to make tea for md and any visitors while he did f all it really pissed me off . I also worked somewhere I had to answer door sign for parcels / customers etc it's just not possible if your doing payment run or payroll .

Polarbearflavour · 15/10/2018 18:33

I find it bizarre how nasty some people are being to the OP.

SillySallySingsSongs · 15/10/2018 18:34

I find it bizarre how nasty some people are being to the OP.

OP hasn't helped themselves tbh.

SillySallySingsSongs · 15/10/2018 18:35

Everyone pitches in where I work, I'm in a senior rolebut if I've got time...."

That's the point though - you're happy to help if you've done your work and you've got time.

OP isn't in a senior role!

HashTagLil · 15/10/2018 18:36

I'm a nurse on the same wage as you OP, I do all that you do above plus much, much more. Including wiping bottoms. I don't see any job as beneath me.

Resigning via text message is unprofessional too.

Original poster
Dhapeer · 15/10/2018 18:40

Yes it is beneath me. Or am I supposed to spend a life time making tea?

OP posts:
Vonvon222 · 15/10/2018 18:42

All those saying they'd make tea for 28k...I'm sure that's not all the ok does.

I'm an administrator and earn way less than that. The person I replaced always made the tea , I made it clear I wouldn't be doing that. I'm the only female in a work place off 45 men. My boss looked embarrassed at the whole tea making thing. Everyone gets their own hot drinks now. It literally takes 2 minutes. Why should I do that, I'm busy enough.