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!

A few years ago I was an admin in a busy team. There was a sort of sub-team (we did the main running of the department, they carried out research in the same area) and the manager of that team was obsessed with making sure the men had a constant supply of hot drinks and biscuits.

One day the head of our team, John, was having a meeting with the head of the research team, Jim. The office manager came rushing into my office, panicking that Jim hadn't had a lunch break and asked me if John had eaten today. She was very bemused when I gave an Alan Partridge-esque shrug and said I had no idea.

Why the fuck would I know?? I earned £19k and John earned £120k - if he wanted a sandwich, he knew where the shop was!

@shinynewapple2020 at our offices, making coffee/tea for tge direct boss, for meetings and for very busy team members is definitely part of the job for junior staff. Less so for senior admin, but once they are senior they are also well paid (50k upwards). And yes, most have a HORECA background - being good at organising people is a key competency

And at nearly 50 I am not going to bloody learn thanks. you realise you have about 20 more years of work left? Not wanting to learn is not gling to work for that long

Please highlight the bit where I said I don’t give a shit. Stop making shit up you sound like a prick

Wow, what a charmer you are

Ohnothisagain - It sounds like you work in a really old-fashioned office, that must specifically pick PAs with a HORECA background. I'm a PA with 30 years experience - no PA I know has a HORECA background and nor do I. I just reviewed 250 CVs for a PA job - the only ones with a hospitality background were those who actually have worked in hospitality and mainly had hospitality related degrees.

In my office sometimes I make my boss a coffee, sometimes he makes me one...you know, like normal respectful equals. Let's hope all offices move to that model at some point. I've not had to specifically make a boss coffee for well over 20 years.

It's your job. Get on with it.

Take a different perspective. This is what they wish to pay you for. It's like putting paper in the photo copier or answering the phone. They see it as beneath their status to make their own - perhaps only because of the last person. So I would offer first thing and four times a day, go and collect the dirty mugs and wash up. Offer to buy special.teas or takeaway coffees once a week. Make sure you know the order. Don't see it as a tea 'round', but a paid role. Do it professionally not badly. Do other things that make their life easier.

I used to have an office job where there was a tea rota, so every hour on the hour someone made the tea/coffees for everyone in the office (there were only around 10 of us). I didn't mind this, however, it annoyed me that the director wasnt on this rota but expected a tea every hour. I remember I missed a call from a very important client due to team meeting so after, I proceeded to call them back and told the office my teas would be slightly late. I remember my friend telling me that the director wont be happy getting her tea 10minutes late - I thought she was joking! But after coming off the call, she came through to the office demanding where her 11oclock tea was!

Like you OP, wherever I have worked, managers/directors have made their own tea and when they dont, I tend to think they are stuck up.

Perhaps your office needs this kind of tea lady, serving cakes laced with strychnine.

Sounds like you're the brew bitch, it wouldn't bother me.