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!

Admin staff are there to make a manager’s job easier. Not to pamper them. Don’t give me any flannel about not having time to make a cup of tea and that having one provided improved your productivity.

Nobody NEEDS tea. It’s a drink. Have water. You won’t die and your work won’t suffer. It’s a power move. Every knows it.

Sunnymummy77

You still haven't started to explain how asking people to do the job they are employed and paid for is an abuse of power and why would making tea be below anyone 🤷

@TheNewLook

Admin staff are there to make a manager’s job easier. Not to pamper them. Don’t give me any flannel about not having time to make a cup of tea and that having one provided improved your productivity.

Nobody NEEDS tea. It’s a drink. Have water. You won’t die and your work won’t suffer. It’s a power move. Every knows it.

no, just you.

Interesting that you see what is part of the job description you accepted (or the OP did) as a power move...

I would suggest to everyone to ask new starters to make rounds of tea, at least for the first 2-3 weeks of their probation, even if you never ask them again later on, That should make it easier to get rid of the ones with attitude

The making drinks thing however, come on no one is SO busy they can’t spare a couple of mins to make a drink

You’ve never worked in a high pressure environment have you

It’s very common to be in back to back meetings all day. I’ve lost count of the days that I’ve sat in one room for hours on end with no break at all

Most meetings have a lot of waffle in them and could easily be cut shorter if the meeting chair was actually good at being chair.

This is bringing back happy memories of admin roles where I most definitely had tea making responsibilities. A legal firm where it was quite a trek to the tea/coffee making facilities and I'd regularly through the day bring a tray with the preferred drinks of my team of 6 lawyers/paralegals. I loved looking after them. A small manufacturing firm that sounds similar to OPs where also hot drinks was very much my job.

I've also worked in offices where everyone takes turns.

Now I work from home and make my own tea (and nobody else's)

Pumpkin - explained loads in great detail. See upthread if you can be bothered.

Get past the “but I Employed her and she agreed” line of thought. I could employ you to wipe my bum and you could agree because it’s the only job you can get at that time. Doesn’t make the way I’m treating you ok.

New look - agree 100% power move.

Honestly I wouldn't mind because my current job is horrible so making someone a few teas would be perfect for me

@chillied you sound lovely and I hope you were well treated. Can I ask - did the team of 6 stop you mid work to request drinks and expect you to get them? If not, would it have changed your opinion if they had?

@whowantsachinese hope you find something better soon.

From the start it’s been made very clear that making tea/coffee for them both is very important

It was important to them and part of the role although I don’t ‘get’ the tea coffee making thing tbh. Just get your own is my view.

It’s very common to be in back to back meetings all day. I’ve lost count of the days that I’ve sat in one room for hours on end with no break at all

Take a flask of hot water and a tea bag/coffee. No-one needs anyone else to make them a drink, alternatively people could take a bottle of water with them?

Take a flask of hot water and a tea bag/coffee.

🤣

Take a flask of hot water and a tea bag/coffee.

And a tent. Pampered bastards.

Take a flask of hot water and a tea bag/coffee. No-one needs anyone else to make them a drink, alternatively people could take a bottle of water with them?

Fortunately I’ve always worked in places where my time and contributions were valued to the extent we are supported to do our jobs as well as we can. That includes having someone bring me tea and coffee if desired.

God knows what you’d make of the in-chair massage service; lunchtime yoga classes (far more often taken by the tea maker than those receiving the tea) and other similar perks.

I would make a fresh cup every ten minutes. No sooner had she finished id be putting another in front of her. Hahahaha

Where I work we all make the tea - no matter what our job role.
My old manager used to have a cup of tea waiting on my desk when I got to work in the mornings 😊

I wouldn't make bad tea. It's not like they're being horrible to you. They did say it was part of the duties in the interview. It does seem old fashioned and personally, I'd rather make my own tea than have someone else do it. It's temporary so I'd just try to make the best of it and just offer them tea.

@Sugarplumfairy65

Get over yourself. Its a!ways the most junior persons job to make the tea. Male or female.

Rubbish

One of the things that makes me sad about these threads is how low the bar is set for so many employees:

The idea that tea makers are “slaves” or skivvies suggests that is how you have seen people in those roles treated like in your organisations. And that’s shit.

But just because your employer is shit doesn’t mean they all are. There are plenty of organisations who treat their staff really well, whether they are employed to make the tea or do something else entirely.

What makes me sad is the number of people who are making tea and coffee as “servile” or “being a slave”. I’ve done a lot worse than that! And been lower paid for it, too.

To be fair, I don’t want to make people tea and coffee for a living, but that’s why I wouldn’t accept that job - I don’t want or need to anymore (luckily). But if I did, I wouldn’t be angry with the person employing me.

@Pinkfluffyunicornsdancing

Its annoying having to make other people drinks all of the time but honestly, its a temporary role, just take your merry little time making them. Stand beside the kettle the whole time it's boiling and revel in the fact they are paying so much for you to stand and do pretty much nothing. Treat each tea making session as a nice paid break.

I agree with this. Use the time to look for a new job on your phone perhaps

To be honest, it was mentioned to you in the interview, so you should have expected it really. I know you thought it was a joke but now you know it wasn't you need to accept that this is part of the job and they did 'warn' you about it.

I sympathise though as I hate making tea for other people. I always get the impression I've made it wrong.

@flaviaritt

What makes me sad is the number of people who are making tea and coffee as “servile” or “being a slave”. I’ve done a lot worse than that! And been lower paid for it, too.

To be fair, I don’t want to make people tea and coffee for a living, but that’s why I wouldn’t accept that job - I don’t want or need to anymore (luckily). But if I did, I wouldn’t be angry with the person employing me.

This. I once did a job that involved scraping a week's worth of several people's shit into giant containers (on a gastroenterology ward). I couldn't get upset about having to make tea.

Sunnymummy77

you STILL refuse to explain why it's fine for a waitress to make you a cup of coffee but not a member of staff when it's part of their job description.

and you might employ someone to wipe your bum one day - how dare you insulting them. If you end up sick or in an accident you will need personal care. It will be made VERY clear at the time of employment of course

People like you looking down at some roles and pretending they are too good for them but playing the "we are all equal" card are offensive and frankly distasteful.

You might not want to work as a nurse or a carer, it's your absolute right. Stop your prima dona attitude and pretend you are too modern when your views on various roles is offensive, dated and insulting. Someone reading this is doing the job you use as an example.