To think he wouldn’t have tried this is I was a man

[Imbloodyannoyed]

Name changed and changed a few details as work related.

I run a business. A small part of my work will sometimes include content writing/editing for clients as a pre-arranged thing bit on the whole it’s provided.

I’ve been chasing a client for some content to lets say drop into a report for some time. Have offered to edit it on their behalf but it’s something that they need to provide.

Sent it to me this evening... written on a piece of paper and photographed it with “if you can just type this up and then edit it (it’s about 3000 words).

I’m not their fucking admin assistant. I’m not a typist. I think my judgement is clouded by other behaviour towards me from this man but Aibu to think he wouldn’t have tried it if I were male.

Send it back to him politely but firmly pointing out that you are not a secretary and content submissions need to be typed.

Tell him what the fees are for this... and then charge him.

Agree with PP. Request if typed up.
Mi think it's partly because you're female and partly (as in coupled with) the type of work you're doing. I've done similar work. Had a male colleague and he did get things like this too, but far less frequently.

@KittyFantastico I’ve drafted something to that effect but I’m so angry am going to hold until the morning. Id also pointed out that if he wants to pay my consultancy rate for typing he must be able to increase the rest of his budget.
As I say, there is some back story but it felt very much like “be a dear and type this up”.

"I'm afraid I can't accept untyped submissions."

Alternatively, charge him 500 quid to type it up. That'll learn him.

CF.....send it back with the request he send it in typed up as expected.

He's trying it on.
Don't allow it.

I've had it before when I worked in R&D. Part of my role was writing content for the staff intranet - training manuals, new operating guidance, etc. One of the operations officers used to think this meant I was his personal admin assistant and would regularly put files and letters into my in-tray so that I could "quickly rattle off a response to and pass it back for signature before posting". He never did it to my co-developer (male), only ever to me.

@FancyPants20 tbf that’s actually not far off what the cost would be - based on my rate and my lack of ability to copy type

We have a guy in our business who exclusively approaches the women to type up his reports. It's fucking ridiculous.

@KittyFantastico it’s a really similar situation here actually. “Can you just find a photo for our website” no that’s not in our remit - would you like us to quote for it? Oh what colour should we use for new logo “no idea I’m not a branding expert - but can put you in touch with one”. “Oh can you just start liasisg with my Va and tell her how to put together a Facebook ad? - no we can do it for you, or offer a training course”

It’s part scope creep but there’s a lot of “you’re a female you must do that”. I cannot wait for the project to end.

Oh honey, don’t know you that men can’t do admin? Typing is just too menial a task for his big, man brain. Plus it’s best to keep women with busy with little tasks, you don’t want them getting ideas above their station.

I’d probably do it but I’d ring him every third word with a “what does this say? Watch? Catch? Witch?” Then charge per phone call and with a very high hourly rate. You must have some sort of super female brain if you can type that up in anything less than a day! What’s your day rate?

I'd respond in business format. "I don't a copy typist, get back to me when you have the item ready for me".

I’ve had ridiculous requests before from clients but have honestly never put it down to “your a woman you do it” before. Cheeky fuckers yes - but this just felt different and has really pissed me off.

So cheeky. When I was younger I would have so fallen for this.

Now I am blunt. I work in a large corporate so different from you OP but you find exactly the same attitude. My boss tries to make me do it. He’ll say “Why don’t you just ask X if they could...”. I will now say to him “I would not ask that because it’s not Xs job and it would basically be like asking for a favour which is not at all professional and very cheeky”. He still does it.

I had similar in a meeting.

Tapering, can you note this for me as an action?
I'm not minuting this meeting - minuting person, could you ensure you've noted this for sexist wanker?
No Tapering, I want you to note it down as an action for me.
I'm not minuting the meeting - but minuting person is just confirming that he's recorded that for you.

It took four fucking goes before he dropped it, and I felt so bloody uncomfortable digging my heels in, in front of the other attendees. But that's what he was banking on and I wasn't minuting the fucking meeting!!!

@Tappering that would have really upset me. The minute taker is noting it - if you feel so strongly you need a note - make it yourself.

I know. It was because the minute taker was a bloke, and sexist twat's tiny little brain couldn't cope with the fact that someone with a vagina was attending the meeting in a contributory rather than administrative capacity.

I refused to bow down because I'd done my years of fucking minute taking and paid my bloody dues!

@Tappering would make me tempted to never being a pen or paper with me ever again.

Be polite, and to the point - send him a fee quote for the requested addition to scope.

Keep emotions out of it.

@barefootmalbec I will be - however am thinking over the “sending a quote” thing. I really am not a copy typist and while of course in theory I can type up 3000 words I don’t bloody want to.
However I then feel that as a professional (and at the end of the day, he’s my customer) I should offer a solution. However the solution is then “would you like me to find a typist”. Which, in this instance still feels like I’m being treated like his bloody PA.

@Imbloodyannoyed emotions waste so much energy. Business is business. Keep them out of it.

Just send him a fairly steep quote, and outsource. It's pretty much guaranteed to stop him puling a similar stunt again. Job done.

Clients are the bane of every business.....

Don't let it get you down. A polite reply saying 'copy looks great - thanks for sending it, but we need it in a Word format'.

Don't quote to type it up. You are not a copy typist. You will set a precedent. Instead put it back to him. "That is not suitable. Send the file to me typed up in X format by Y date if you want this included. (If necessary, - "ABC services provide copying typing. Here are the contact details").

@barefootmalbec I think I need to work on this! I’m always always professional but do think I can be a bit too emotional about work - things niggle at me and I perhaps do dwell. Not this in particular but in general. I wonder how this is achieved though.

This is so cheeky! I'd be pissed off too, but I'd also reply with a sky-high rate for typing it up. If they don't bite, no loss, you don't really want the work anyway. If they do, outsource it to a typist and pocket the difference. As others have said, keep it professional, "Hi x, thanks for sharing the file. I'll need it in Word format for editing. If you need me to type it up into a Word document, my rate is £xxx(x!). Let me know how you'd like to proceed. Best, x"