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?

It sounds like that (maybe apocryphal?) story of clearing runway decks on an aircraft carrier- when there was a vague sense of everyone must pitch in, it was not completed effectively. When one person became responsible on each watch , the job was completed correctly . (This story would be a lot more meaningful if I could remember the actual details!)

Yes, we frequently get calls asking which office they're through to. They're looking for someone in Wokingham and London picks it up. I don't know who works in Wokingham!

@Dhapeer of course I don’t walk through a wall ffs. My office is in a section where you can only have access with a swipe card. If you don’t work there you can’t get in. There is a buzzer but that is answered in a different office within the department but does not affect me and is rarely used anyway because the nature of where I work.

It's the most ridiculous set up I have ever seen and I have been receptionist for an office of 300. It's pure lunacy. But it's not my headache or stress any longer. The receptionist doesn't get the concept of answering more than one call at a time. I frequently handled 5 calls at a time (5 lines) and managed to transfer them successfully ON MY OWN. I have been both a receptionist and an office manager. I have worked in small practices and multinationals. It all just seems insane! I can not describe the relief that I have handed in my notice!

There are a couple of things here: Yes, being asked to cover as a Receptionist all day, every day would be a problem in so much as you wouldn't have time for your own job but this is not the case, is it? I mean you have Receptionists most of the time? And there are others available? Not just you?
YANBU about the amount of calls. A better system would be that person A covers calls/door answering/refreshments from 8-10am, person B from 10-12 etc. So, you'll all have an assigned cover window.

However you ARE being completely unreasonable and very unprofessional by stating that any of it is beneath you! I'm an Office Manager now but spent years as a Team Admin and previous to that I worked as a PA, Junior Admin, Support Admin, Receptionist, and Files Clerk. All in incredibly busy, multinational offices. The key facet of administration is to keep all running smoothly, picking up any slack as and when needed. You adapt to the job, not the other way round! It's utterly incredulous that you have such a poor attitude given your years of experience. If I were the HR Manager, I absolutely would 'circle wagons' and would gladly accept your resignation in favour of finding a more suitable candidate who is a better fit and less likely to throw her toys out of her pram.

expect all members of the Admin team (including me) to answer phones if the receptionists aren't around
But it sounds like everyone’s phone rings even if the receptionist is sitting right by her phone scratching her bum and hasn’t picked up yet. Which is annoying and disruptive.

YANBU op.
It sounds soo stressful, the phone ringing every minute would drive me crazy! I don’t blame you for wanting to leave

Op, are you this.......abrasive........for want of a better word in real life or are you just using mn as a sounding board?

Well they have gladly accepted my resignation! They had no other choice. They'll get a chimp to replace me, but they won't get a ME. Their complete loss.

I'm a very efficient, nose to the ground employee. I'm like the magic fairy who gets things done. I'm chatty and friendly. But I ain't working for them no more! Make their own goddamned tea lol

Well they have gladly accepted my resignation! They had no other choice. They'll get a chimp to replace me, but they won't get a ME. Their complete loss.

Well with that attitude I bet they throw a party and put the bunting out and talk about how glad they are you've gone.

Talk about being full of self importance

More people need to say “I’m not here to make tea”. Women especially. Well done OP. That’s not what you were hired for. It’s a total cop out to say “everyone pitches in”. That’s bollocks, everyone pitches in in extra ordinary circumstances, when someone is sick or there is lots of work on. but not as standard to save them paying another receptionist. You weren’t happy with the job so you left instead of staying and whining while nothing ever changed. That’s what we’re expected to do, just suck it up and deal with being piled on with other people’s work. Nah, fuck that, leave and tell them why.

Well they absolutely had a choice, they could have set up a meeting to discuss why, and be open to suggestions to improve. That's what I've done with Managers when someone has handed in their notice and it's been a blow. We've worked with the person to resolve their issues. Sometimes it's worked sometimes it hasn't.

An admin support role is probably one of the easiest roles to fill ime, so many excellent candidates out there, so they will find someone probably more suited to the pace of the role.

What did you want to happen when you handed your notice in @Dhapeer? You seem shocked that they have just accepted it- what reaction were you expecting?

Exactly! If I wanted to make tea, I'd waitress. I asked for a challenging, busy role. And this is what I got. It's not for me.

Because I shut down all suggestions of discussions. I've made my mind up and that's that.

YANBU
You weren't employed to do that and if there is no reception staff that's a problem they should address. It shouldn't become your problem.
Never fails to amaze me that people accept having extra work piled on them like this.

While it's too late now, the key issue that you should have drilled down to is why. It's probably bollocks about 'everyone pitching in.' In my experience it is usually financial (company won't pay for the amount of staff required) or the receptionist isn't up to scratch and no one will address the issue.

Sounds like you've done the best thing for you. If you are not happy carrying out those duties, then best find a role where you won't be asked to take on those duties.

I think the OP has a rather over-inflated view of her own importance, tbh. Wanting a "challenge" indeed - the biggest challenge here would be putting her own ego in its rightful place.

The phone system doesn't sound overly productive, and could use a shake up, but making the occasional teas / coffees or answering the door once in while isn't exactly the end of the world...

It took me 4 months to actually do it, but it's done now and I feel so relieved. I can't describe it. There is no discussion that would change my mind and I've told them as much.

This has got to be a joke. Nobody is this full of themselves on.a 28k salary.

I’m surprised you can hear the phone ring when you’re so far up your own arse.

If you can’t have a good old vent and say what you really think on an anonymous internet forum, then where can you 🤷🏼‍♀️

Good lord. Magic fairy.

There are no words for this level of self-delusion. Nobody is irreplaceable. They might get someone better than you - because there are plenty of efficient, hard working and competent administrators out there.

My manager sounded utterly deflated. HR couldn't give a fuck. I couldn't give a fuck. I'm out of there!