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'd be over the moon doing this job and earning 28 grand....I do everything you do and a little more as I make all the teas and coffee's each and every day for 7 people and they usually have between 4 or 5 cups each. I do all the post incoming and outgoing, all the admin work for 6 people, PA to the Director. Do all the accounts, wages and HR. Answer all the telephone calls and have even cleaned the office when the cleaner didn't turn up for a few days. I understand that it can be frustrating when you are in the middle of something important, but I'm grateful that I have a job to go to as when it's always easier to get a job when you are in a job and have you thought how you are going to explain your reasons for leaving your last job when you are lucky enough to get an interview !!!

YABU for all the reasons people have said.

You handed in your notice by text and you say you're a professional

You've got it in one Posie! Add to that, we can be picking up calls for the Wokingham, Cambridge or Ipswich office, and they ask to speak to someone else if the original person doesn't pick up and you haven't a clue that original person existed let alone who works on their team!

Not a valid equivalent.

So how often does it ring 100 times a day or 500? 100 is about every 5 mins 500 is every minute. Seems a lot..

Where I work people are paid 28kto answer the phone and make tea. I would not say it is a good use of organisation funds tbh.

So I kind of agree with you.
But your attitude stinks. No one likes this kind of attitude at work I bet they will be delighted you are leaving.

I have done all of that when working in a small solicitors practice, 2 solicitors and me. Everything from cleaning the toilets to going to court. But this company has 480 employees!

Clients are essentially ringing a call centre.

It would ring maybe 3 times a minute - bear in mind, it rings every time a phone rings reception of any of the offices. They only put the reception number on business cards, no direct lines.

If you were my employee, I’d be glad to see the back of you with an attitude like that.

28k to do that sounds like a dream to me

HR lady called and said it's just they want everyone to help out so I said fine, I stick with my notice. End of that sorry saga.

FFS you could get someone to make tea for the minimum wage. Anyway.

I want a bloody challenge at work. Not to doss around making tea. Christ. Some of you are easily pleased.

Beneath you 😂 It’s not equivalent to asking someone digging holes to answer the phones and the door, what nonsense! It’s asking someone doing admin to do a bit of other admin work when the receptionist is off or busy.

Also our receptionist earns 26k so...

Hopefully you find something else, more suited to your high standing and 20+ years administration experience

Maybe some of you get job satisfaction from making a fine flask of fucking tea, but I certainly don't! I need a challenge. And I don't need to be constantly stressed by a phone ringing.

Wow OP, I'm really shocked at your attitude. Between the 'beneath you' comment and you not being willing to help out at all, I think they will be well rid of you. Why do you think you're so much more special than everyone else?

Offices and the way they are run are different everywhere OP, things change and the fact you aren't willing to change too means they're better off without you. It's not 'beneath' you, it's called doing the job you're asked to do. Job descriptions change and you aren't a team player. Your level of anger over this is mad. I can only assume you don't need to work financially given your ease to quit.

I am Finance Manager for a small business, we all chip in to make tea, answer calls, take post/ deliveries. But at that volume I would have thought they should have someone employed extra to do the job.

Dhapeer I didn't know people actually had these attitudes till you

FFS our CEO answers the door if he's closest and he's on £160K.

And don't take this the wrong way, but which part of £28K and being a team administrator means you're above this? We pay our receptionist more than that - £28K is not an 'above this' salary for an administrative.

I would not have taken the job if any of this was discussed. None of it was.

I get very easily distracted, so 8 would find what they are asking as infuriating. Plus I hate making tea. So I do get it. However, I don't have admin experience, I do kind of get why they are asking everyone to pitch in, and you do seem to be really angry about it. You talk about 100 calls a day, then 400, then 500. You hand you notice in, without anywhere to go to I assume. I don't quite get the reaction to this extent, but I do agree that the situation is far from ideal and I would start looking for new job ASAP. I would be mad, but not as mad as you appear to be, which makes me wonder if there is more going on that just this.

I had some sympathy for you until you said it was 'beneath you'....pretty sure with that attitude they'll be glad to see the back of you.

Well, they lose me and literally from my boss five minutes ago 'I'm shocked because you're the best we have ever had'.
Yeah, well, maybe hire someone to do the donkey work.

I'll find something no bother. What with all my experience making tea and such.

Beneath you?

Oh op I bet you are a joy to work with.

Your attitude is nasty OP. I've been a PA to important people etc, earning £50k and I still made the fucking tea and answered the phone if needs be because it's called working and being a team player. I think secretly HR will be very pleased to see you walk !!!!