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 don't blame you op. That would drive me batshit too. How are you supposed to do your actual own job if you're always being disrupted by someone else's.

And laughing at the idea that op is a snob for not wanting to take on tasks she feels she has developed past and wanting a challenge. No one would be calling a man working in an office a snob for not answering reception or making teas instead of doing his job. God forbid a woman should know her worth.

Wow, what a nasty attitude you have, OP. They are well rid of you and I feel sorry for anyone who even thinks about hiring you.

No task is beneath anyone; pay and experience is irrelevant. You are not too good to do any task.

You are extremely unprofessional - handing in your resignation by text? Shouting about the receptionist in a meeting?

You should be ashamed of yourself, OP.

I'm like the magic fairy who gets things done.

If you say so dear

Yes, apparently I should know my place. Well fuck it. I don't accept answering doors and phones as my place.

Manager is probably thinking that the admin and hassle of hiring someone new is a bit of a pest, and it's easier to stick with the devil you know. Don't take it personally.

Hey, I'm not ashamed of myself. I'm proud of myself for saying NO.

I can see why HR didn't give a fuck TBH based on your attitude 😂 were you expecting wailing and sobbing in the streets?

I love people with an overinflated sense of self.

@snifflesnifflesnore I absolutely would ( and have) called a man out for claiming certain tasks were beneath him. This isn't a gender issue so no need to make it one.

It's not the job I was hired to do. It's that simple. If they had told me that's what I had to do, I wouldn't have taken the job.

They might get someone better than you - because there are plenty of efficient, hard working and competent administrators out there

Who have no problem with being taken advantage of.
At least now OP is resigning her company may look at their own failings and how they treat their staff.
OP is probably hard working and efficient.

Answering calls, answering the door and making tea are general tasks of someone working in admin tbh and to be expected. However this system of calls from all offices coming to you, with you having no way of even being able to help the customer, is just ridiculous. I can see why this would be incredibly frustrating.

I work on a busy ward as a HCA, we all pitch in with answering the phone (it doesn't stop!) and answering the door (also never stops, I work on labour ward so constantly birth partners coming and going day and night). Everyone does these tasks, whether a midwife, doctor, ward manager, consultant etc. It isn't beneath anyone! I pop out of my room too to answer if no one else has, even when busy as generally the calls are important/partners shouldn't be left stuck outside. However I wouldn't be so quick to answer if most of the calls didn't even relate to our ward!

You did the right thing, you weren't happy. I am sure you will find another job soon.

I love people with an overinflated sense of self

Self worth is not over inflated

Self worth is not over inflated

No but talking about being a magic fairy and jobs as beneath you is pathetic at best. Their is self worth and there is over rated arrogance.

If you don’t set your own value, someone else will set it for you.

The tea thing you are completely right on - why can’t people make their own? Of course, offer should the person wish to and goes without saying that someone would make for clients.

The phones and the door thing though, you sound quite ridiculous - clients need dealing with - that’s business and whether 5, 50 or indeed 500 calls a day - it’s just tough.

This thread has to be a joke. If it’s true then clearly there’s an issue with the home system, that’s for sure but it should be raised and dealt with in a professional way.

But your tantrum is ridiculous. Why on earth are you beyond making tea and opening a door? I’m a director in my company and if someone rings the bell I answer the door and make the teas. OP 28k isn’t a high salary and doesn’t suggest a senior role at all, the members of my team on £28k are pretty junior and we are really not high payers at all. I think you’ll need to have a think about your attitude

You’re proud of yourself for having such a nasty attitude? You’re an embarrassment, and you fail at your main job simply by being unprofessional.

You’re an admin. On 28k. You’re not a rocket scientist, you’re not saving anyone’s life or doing any good in the world, and you are easily replaceable.

It's not the job I was hired to do. It's that simple. If they had told me that's what I had to do, I wouldn't have taken the job

Surely you know that these days you are supposed to do anything demanded of you even if it's to your own detriment?
It's a work culture that has developed and thrived for a while now.
God forbid you speak out or won't tolerate it.

I love people with an overinflated sense of self

I don't do tasks on a daily basis that are outside of my job description, because someone is actually getting paid for those things. I quite like my feeling of self worth.

I absolutely would ( and have) called a man out for claiming certain tasks were beneath him. This isn't a gender issue so no need to make it one.

Yeah right.

I've been around a long time. I know that everyone is dispensable. My manager is shocked and miserable (his previous administrator made his life a misery by refusing to do anything and calling racism (13 times, none of which were upheld) until she was eventually fired). He told me it affected his personal life and he was suffering from stress. He has told me that it's a breath of fresh air working with me. We sit side by side and he says and I do. It's a good working relationship and I respect him as a boss. However, the other shite, that I'm expected to do, he has no control over. So, it is what it is. I'm getting sick and stressed and vomiting and a knot in my stomach about work. HR don't. I don't expect them to care. They're HR.

Why are you posting on AIBU? You've made up your mind..go to it.
Your job sounds like a headache...but you're inflated attitude is lousy.

I appreciate I might sound breezy, but when you get an absolute dread in your stomach that manifests as a tightening of your stomach physically, you know you're not happy. I sound breezy because the weight is lifted.

The phone ringing everytime any reception branch is called is silly, most places have a set up where calls bounce to another line if nobody answers after X number of rings, something like that, or bouncing to another receptionist first - would be far more efficient.

That being said im a PA and have worked in a range of admin roles and normally it’s a very broad type of role where you are expected to pick up ad hoc admin tasks. Answering the door and making tea would probably come under that umbrella.

That being said clearly the role isn’t right for you so you’ve done what’s right for yourself.

This decision was 4 months in the making. It was not an overnight decision. I'm actually getting ill as a result of this job.

You’re an admin. On 28k. You’re not a rocket scientist, you’re not saving anyone’s life or doing any good in the world, and you are easily replaceable

Ah, so an employee can only be shown or expect respect if they are saving lives or are a rocket scientist, or earning over 28k?
That's a bit of a spotty attitude you have there.