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?

No. ANYONE saying a task is beneath them, texting their manager to resign, and calling out rudely about a colleague in a meeting is unprofessional.

I was once a Bid Manager, but with responsibility as stated in my contract for 'supporting the Sales Directors in client/bid meetings'. Apparently this included going to Sainsbury's for sandwiches and making massive (i.e. 15-20 cups) rounds of hot drinks.

Interesting. Forthright woman speaks out and is called unprofessional. Forthright man speaking out would be commended.

No texting a resignation and the comments of the email are unprofessional whoever you are.

I struggled to argue my case although typically this responsibility would mean supporting in presentations and assuming responsibility for certain aspects - they were just taking the piss.

Forthright man speaking out would be commended.

No, I would not be impressed with anyone acting like this. I don’t know why people are so determined to make this a sexism issue

Nope. She starts out by being nice and mentioning it to her boss, she by the sounds of it has expressed her displeasure within the team at the system and it's fallen on deaf ears and now she's being told that actually she now has to go and sort out meeting refreshments. And that's the final straw. I'd be pissed off too.

I honestly think some people see the word 'administrator' and think 'thicko dogsbody who should be grateful a man lets her do the typing'. Administrators can have a lot of expertise and specialist skills. Just because they can make a round of tea for a meeting doesn't mean that they should. I'd be pretty pissed off if I was in a job requiring concentration and I kept getting interrupted to do junior level tasks so I couldn't get my own work done.

Also think it's unlikely a man would react like this because it's unlikely a man would be asked to do these things in the first place.

This is fucking hilarious. I'm not happy with my job and call out the contractual issues and I must be going through the change. Jesus fucking Christ.

God almighty, I'm just envisaging them all sat at their desks nodding' Yup, It's the change'. FOR FUCKS SAKE.

And this is a women led website? Christ almighty.

It's not that you weren't happy with your job. It's how you've handled not being happy with your job.

This is fucking hilarious... Jesus fucking Christ. God almighty... FOR FUCKS SAKE. Christ almighty.

Are you honestly always this angry?! Without any hormonal Rage, this is how you are?

They are not contractual issues, your day to day work is operational. I'd be very surprised if your tasks in the job description were contractual.

These posts remind me why I don’t work in admin any more. You are expected to do all the crap jobs and be psychic. In my predominantly male office, none of them bothered to report a leak in the meeting room when I was off and the ceiling collapsed.

Another day I was “told off” for not reporting a leak in the men’s loos as I’m meant to magically know that! It wasn’t my job to be a facilities manager but as the lone woman these crappy jobs fell to me.

I’m so glad I left them with broken printers, no paper and no stationery. I often wondered if they figured how how to fix it.

How many phone calls you can expected to answer isn't in your contract none of this is contractual. You're In your probation period it's not for you fair enough they'll find someone else to do it instead move along

Why are people making this a sexism issue. I wouldn't be impressed with anyone saying a task was beneath them... Regardless of sex.

28k to answer phones and make tea? Sign me up.

You are an ADMINISTRATOR. How is that above a receptionist exactly? Good lord.

It wasn't just the "beneath me" comments. There were also several derogatory comments at those who might end up in such a role that required hospitality provision, receptionist duties etc - "chimp" was one such term I believe. Dreadful attitude; good luck with your future career OP!

I wouldn't be impressed with anyone saying a task was beneath them... Regardless of sex.

I wouldn't be impressed if I paid someone for doing a skilled job and they were spending significant amounts of time answering random phone calls, opening the door for visitors, or hoovering the office (like one "senior" employee a few pages back).

Women, get back in your boxes.

I completely agree that the op was having to perform duties out of the JD and I don't deny the constant phone and door answering clearly impinged on her ability to do her job.

What I find disgusting is claiming these roles were 'beneath' her then claiming we're all misogynistic idiots for suggesting this was a pretty awful thing to say.

Isn't it pretty universal that administrators cover reception duties when required?

Anyway, with 22 years' experience and working as a PA you should be earning a lot more than £28k...

If you're reacting with this level of stress you probably aren't what the company needs so your leaving will probably be mutually beneficial. I agree with a few previous posters saying that anyone resigning by text and then sending that email is unprofessional whether they're male or female.

Also if you're genuinely getting ill because you might have to make tea sometimes or answer the door I second PPs who have recommended you seek some professional help. That's a very extreme reaction to fairly innocuous (and not out of the ordinary) duties.

You're extra duties are exactly the same as all the secretaries in our office - we all muck in do what needs doing with good grace ... they're paying me so I'll do what is required (within reason)- none of this is in our contracts either.

I got to page five of this thread and couldn't stand it any longer, whilst I do think the set up is a little odd to say the least in an organisation of that size and I do empathise with your frustration I do find your attitude awful, things that are beneath you, getting monkeys to do it, they pay me £28K to make the tea, they could may min wage for making tea etc.

I'm an employer and even if you were gold plated at your job, with that attitude you wouldn't last long. I have employed one person before who was excellent at the actual role, but her attitude and banter in the work place was so bad, she lasted 3 weeks.

Being excellent in your role is brilliant, but you need wider skills also, I really hope they didn't pick up on the attitude you have shown here.