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?

Yes, the phone rings about 3 times a minute. Constantly basically. Like as if you were on reception. Because every time it rings reception, it rings you.

I'm sure they are glad to get rid of me. I'm certainly glad to leave them.

To not be a downer about this and suggest it happens everywhere - I also know, and have worked for firms that recognise, that great admin staff are worth their weight in gold. A Director I trained with would have been furious if his PA had been redirected from his team’s work to make tea for a meeting. I know he supported his PA covering reception for an HOUR if they were short so reception staff could go for lunch, but only if prearranged. Not because he’s a slave driver, but because he valued their skill and time!

The phone rings everyone in the building every time someone calls the main switchboard ? Or just your line. How do you, or any of your own colleagues pick the phone up, or make calls if it’s constantly ringing.
Either way That sounds like an IT/ telecom issue.
Fair enough if you’ve brought these issues up with your boss, but if you’re just expecting them to know without communicating the issue then you are Bu.

No, the phone rings all admin staff any time if rings any of the 6 receptions in the UK.

I think OP is getting a hard time here. If my phone was ringing 3 times a minute, I'd unplug it.

Yanbu. That level of disruption is very unreasonable. It's not a good way to organising phone answering.

Of course I'm getting a hard time. It's MN. I should be grateful to have EARS to hear the phone fucking ringing.

I'm with you OP. Nothing worse than doing stuff you think is beneath you, and the constant interruption of the phones must be a hassle.

If you know it's not right for you there you've done the right thing by leaving.

You guys might not think it, but I am actually a great loss to them. It really is their loss. I am damned good at my job and make my bosses jobs easier. But hey ho, tea's gotta be made!

It sounds disruptive if the phone is ringing every minute or two. Especially if everyone’s phone rings simultaneously. How does anyone get any work done with the noise of 10/20/100 phones all repeatedly ringing at the same time?

The problem with making something everyone’s job is that it’s nobody’s responsibility. Nobody will make tea, answer the door, etc - they’ll wait for someone else to do it. You’re a mug if you get up and do it. I wouldn’t quit though. I’d sit on my arse and let one of the other people in the room do it.

It's no wonder they have 4 administrators to do a job that one could do!

Bit late Sputnik. I've already quit.

Perfectly normal in my job. We all do 'receptionist' duties since they got rid of receptionists a few years ago. And I get paid £33k. I'm not sure what my salary has to do with it. You sound like you think the work is beneath you?

op if you are that big a loss they'll do something to keep you.

Although admittedly handing in your notice via text wasn't the best move and the very opposite of professional so might make them think twice.

There is absolutely nothing they could say or do that would make me reverse my decision.

I agree with you that level of disruption isn't great but your attitude stinks saying it is beneath you. I earn way more than you and I manage a lot of people. I still answer the phone when the business needs me to. I don't answer the door as we don't have one to answer and I don't usually make tea etc but only because I don't drink hot drinks and it never enters my mind to.

I just needed to do it, I've been thinking about it for 4 months. Now that's it's done, it's done.

How do you get to your desk? Do you walk through a wall Magenta?

I think the real issue here is that the volume of calls is too much for the receptionist and 4 admin immediately near her - the group ring should be limited to that group - 5 people should be able to organise so that there is constant cover. ONLY if all 5 are on the phone should it trip through to ringing everyone else.

Tea and coffee put machines int he conference rooms and make meeting organiser responsible for clear up. Receptionist resp for restocking

Its the devolved responsibility that seems to be the issue - no ownership of making things happen

Yanbu at all. The phone calls alone would drive me insane. Crazy set-up they've got there.

I'm head of Admin and expect all members of the Admin team (including me) to answer phones if the receptionists aren't around etc - who else is going to do it? We all chip in together, that's why we are a team.

I can understand where you’re coming from from.

Yes, in a small company everyone might be expected to pitch in. Yes, in emergencies a cover rota might be arranged, so that staff from different departments cover say an hour at a time. But the system you’ve described seems utterly disorganised, and completely disruptive to everybody’s work, all the time.

If there aren’t enough receptionists to answer phones and doors, employ sufficient receptionists. If tea at meetings is frequently required,employ someone as hospitality admin or some such. Their system means that the entire organisation comes across as if nobody knows what anyone’s doing, because no one person or team is acting as the gatekeeper to accurately divert calls/visitors to the right place. It’s probably frustrating for clients too.

My MD and finance director have both been known to answer the door, make tea, even buy milk, and we all answer phones in our office.

I get you saying it's 'distracting' but when you uttered the words 'beneath me', you lost me, as you honestly sound like you're delusional about your 22 years office admin experience making you above certain tasks. The fact you've resigned over this may come as a blessed relief to your employers!

There is absolutely nothing they could say or do that would make me reverse my decision.

Given your attitude I doubt they would want to.