To think I’m not the tea bitch?

[Ribrabrob]

Recently started a new job. Fairly basic administration job, although fairly well paid for the role. It’s just a temporary maternity cover role. Not really a job I enjoy or want to do but was rather desperate so took the job.

The job is okay and the people are fine, mostly quite nice. I work closely with the manger in a tiny office, the owner is based in an office nearby but regularly pops in. From the start it’s been made very clear that making tea/coffee for them both is very important in fact in my first interview I asked what was the most helpful thing the previous post holder did for the manager. The manager answered ‘oh it’s so helpful when she gets my drink for me’. I remember laughing thinking it was a joke but it wasn’t

Hints are regularly made about having a drink, at least twice before I get the hint and then I’ll offer. If I don’t offer she’ll then ask outright but always after hunting. It’s annoying, i would rather she just ask. Other people also make little remarks when they visit the office that she (manager) doesn’t seem to drink as much as when the other post holder was here! It’s so weird.

I don’t drink many hot drinks myself, usually just one in the morning and occasionally another later on so it doesn’t always enter my head to make one 🤷‍♀️ But of course I do offer when I am making.

The other day the owner was due in in about half an hour. Manager asked me to have a chat quickly and took ten minutes explaining to me how he’d like his tea and to try and have one ready for him.

Aibu to be annoyed by this or is it just a part of a basic admin role? Aibu to think I’m not the tea bitch?! Aibu to think how I make the tea really isn’t that important? I’ve worked in offices before and the CEO’s would always make drinks like everybody else!

To the tube of 'Rescue Me' by Fontella Bass:

Make the tea,
And give it to your boss,
Make the tea,
Although it makes you cross

Because it's only
For a while,
Wear a smile,
Ignore the rising bile,
Go on and make the tea

You can tell I'm a tad sleep-deprived, can't you?

Just when you hand over the tea and they say thank you (or not) just say "go on, drink it" smile and leave

You don't work for Yorkshire Tea HQ do ya OP?

Cough loudly when making those cuppa cha!

@BameChange123

You don't work for Yorkshire Tea HQ do ya OP?

Cough loudly when making those cuppa cha!

I haven't had a cuppa tea for days. Lacking a tea bitch I'll have to make my own. Earl Grey no milk no sugar, lovely.

Making tea for the boss or visitors isn't always part of an admin role, but in some places it is and it is not unreasonable.

Does the office still have staff paid in cash? Do they refer to things in feet and inches (or pounds and shillings)?

Outdated is the polite term. Even worse given please and thank you may be absent.

Make the bloody tea, as long as you're getting paid, I don't see the problem.

I've worked for companies like this before. They seem to think you have nothing better to do then make them tea. Dropping hints and telling you how thirsty they are would drive me in sane. Always make a bad cup, even if they start trying to train you how to make a good cup of tea, just keep getting it wrong. They'll eventually get the message. I think in most offices everyone takes turns.

Normally I would say YANBU but as it was mentioned in the interview as specifically being part of your job role, yes, YABU.

Is it part of a normal admin job? It is yeah.

It may not be on the job description but there seems to be an unspoken rule that the admin in the office makes the tea, it's part of a hang over from the old secretaries/PA role.

Does it matter how the tea is made? Of course it matters..... nobody wants a disgusting cup of anything.

The bottom line here is you're the temp and you are filling in for someone else who had a specific role and you're not doing it. If you don't like the job go elsewhere. You've already made it plain you feel this job is beneath you and there are plenty of people out there who would kill for the opportunity.

Suck it up or move on.

No, it's not admin but it was made clear at interview and it's a support role.
Make the tea. What does it matter? Like you've said, it's not a career role for you.

Wow I never expected such a response! And it seems I’m being very unreasonable - ok, accepted nice to get some other people’s views and put into perspective.

Also just to reiterate I don’t think it’s beneath me to make the tea and I have never once had a ‘tantrum’ about it.

And as for "you've got nothing better to do" - clearly they think you haven't and that's kinda their choice! Stop waiting to be hinted at and make the tea.

I would make the tea and do it graciously.
Why make things difficult - it’s easy and probably really isn’t about you - and you may want a reference.
I’ve been in situations like this (not tea but other egregious things that make you mad) and I’m no saint but the way to the higher moral ground and respect is to do things gracefully, without complaint and well. Unless it’s sheer bullying - in which case don’t do what I did, choose my password “iambeingbullied” then couldn’t remember where I put the 1 and ! and almost had to tell it to IT !!!

I think that's outrageous. Thought this kind of behaviour died out by the 1980s! I expect some men to be misgynists. Hate it when women don't set an example for other women, especially when they're in a position of authority.

Sounds like making tea is a big part of this job. It’s just a temporary gig, make the tea and don’t let it bother you. Odds are, you won’t have to do this in the next role.

Get a tee shirt printed with tea bitch printed across the front.😁😁

Hadn't heard the term, 'tea bitch'
Sounds kinda cool.
What's the hourly rate?
Any vacancies?

Still happy to go with the fact that I’m unreasonable (not one of those crazy posters that gets angry at the suggestion despite them asking), however I want to answer a few points.

I’m not actually the most junior colleague in the place, but I do happen to be the colleague that sits in with the manager so that’s why. It’s a tiny office and most other staff are in and out but do not sit in the office, if you see what I mean.

Making drinks isn’t in my job description or included in my list of duties showed to me on my first day, however I realise they always put a clause I.e. ‘and any other duties as required’.

So I will continue to suck it up. I guess it’s no big deal in the grand scheme of things - lucky to have a job really - but it just surprised me. Plus I do find it hard because I don’t always pick up on hints (in general life, not just regarding this) and also, as I said, I don’t drink many hot drinks myself so I suppose I forget that a lot of other people tend to drink 10202 a day!

Will continue to deal with it :)

I’d be telling them you are not comfortable making drinks for/being made drinks due to COVID.

Can't you just say - pleasantly - that you don't bother much with hot drinks for yourself, so it would save a lot of grief if she/they would say when they want one? Or give you a timetable? If you know she/they like tea and/or coffee at specific times, you will deal with it! But having to second-guess their needs is slightly demeaning: you are there as an admin worker, not a nanny.

That would really annoy me. So patronising

I would hate for someone else to make tea for me!

It might be part of the role but it sounds quite an antiquated tradition.

You could always spit in it, if they piss you off

Unfortunately with every admin type job I’ve had (PA, Management Secretary, Recruitment Assistant, Senior Legal Secretary etc etc), making tea has been an expected part of the role (along with popping out to buy lunch, heating and bringing soup (yes, really), taking and picking up dry cleaning, dusting filing cabinets....) if you’ve done admin based work and have managed to escape these kind of tasks you’ve been lucky.

Admin work in most places really is general dogsbody work along with the expected tasks - often because it’s usually women in the role!

As time goes on, I hope things are changing. I have been working since 1994 though (when people used to smoke in offices!)