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!

@FrankieStein402

Gobsmacked at the number of people saying this is fine - why the f*ck doesn't everyone make their own drink or have a rota?

It's not admin at all. Can you see a man being asked to make tea for the "managers"? it's ridiculously old fashioned and not recognising that everyone contributes to the success of a business.

why the fck doesn't everyone make their own drink or have a rota?* because they don't want to and it's their business?

Can you see a man being asked to make tea for the "managers"?

well yes, it happens quite a lot, what makes you think it wouldn't

Who cares if some "very important people" make their own drink, you accepted a role where it's part of the job. There's nothing offensive in asking someone to make tea. You could be asked to bring back sandwiches too, you could even be asked to prepare and tidy the board room, asked to book taxis or go to the post office, who knows.

Again, who cares if it's not in the job description of other posters on here? That has no relevance to your own. You are free to leave if you don't like making teas.

Some posters on here have a massive chip on a their shoulder and are very vocal because it doesn't affect them.

It's 2020 not 1950. If someone wants a cup of tea, they can bloody well makes it themselves and not expect the newest member of staff to do it. Lazy twats.

Situations like this is why I have only ever had water (in my own refillable bottle) at work for all of my working years! Can't stand when my colleagues go 'ooh I'm parched/so thirsty/ really could use a hot drink'. If you want a drink, go and fucking make one yourself!

Rant over!

I’d find the hinting rather than asking really annoying. And while they’ve sort of made it clear they expect it of you, if I read your posts correctly they haven’t written it into the job description they’ve just said that it was nice when the previous person did it. It’s like they want you to do it because you recognise how important they are, not because it’s something they are paying you to do.

But I think the taking your time and doing it badly is a somewhat petty approach to take. It’s just a job and you know what they want. It’s not (from what you’ve said) as though they hired you with the idea you’d be spending your time polishing your professional skills but they actually keep interrupting you to make the tea or something.

It's a basic, temporary admin job - of course you make the tea

Hasn't everyone done this in a basic job

I wasn’t even the most junior in my job, two male members of staff were younger and more junior than me and another three men had an equivalent role. Guess who still was asked to make the tea? In another job I had it was either me or another woman that was expected to to make tea, more junior male members of staff were never sent out in the rain for milk and teabags. Once I was sent out, they thought of something else they wanted and had a big laugh about how I’d have to go back out in the snow.

My DH was my male equivalent in one job (this is how we met) and he was never asked to make tea, do receptionist duties on top of his existing work, take minutes or tidy rooms.

If the hinting annoys, offer before they hint. One at 9am, one at 11, another after lunch and one at around 3.30pm.

Go in there tooled up with mask, gloves, hand gel, wipes, etc. Every time they want a cup of tea, take your time to don all the gear, sanitise the cups, the spoons, the canisters, the worktop, the kettle, the fridge door, the milk bottle, the lot.

See how long it is before they crack.

It's rude and old fashioned. I'd hate this too BUT tbf, they did let you know the role would entail being a tea bitch. So in this case I'd suck it up and have some fun by taking my time, you can vent on mumsnet while the kettle is boiling.
Failing that, spit in their tea. (Mainly) joking.

Yes it would piss me off. Making tea for my boss all day? Fuck that.

I offer when I'm making one and sometimes end up with a tray full but if I think anyone is taking the piss I.e never returning the favour I stop offering for a while.

In this day and age I really can't believe this is normal and I'd be embarrassed to expect someone junior than me to make me tea all the time,

It is lazy and shitty of them.
But if you really need this job just get on with it, it's not the worst thing in the world.

Make your manager a really shit brew OP and she won’t ask again 🤣

You were told from the beginning so why take the job if was against your principles?

The admin team make drinks for our directors and sometimes go and get them lunch because they’re really busy and wouldn’t eat or drink otherwise. When the directors are at meetings the PAs sometimes offer me a drink which I occasionally gratefully accept but would never ask them as I’m a deputy director and that would mean they’re making tea for all the deputies. Lovely when they offer though. It’s part of their jobs and you were told at interview so not sure why you’re so offended by it.

@Sugarplumfairy65

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

No. You make your own.

@PanamaPattie so a director who has back to back Zoom meetings without even a break for a wee should just go without a drink? She’s not being asked to do this because she’s a woman but because it’s part of the job.

I'd be annoyed at the hinting but it sounds like they have been clear from interview stage that you are in fact the "tea bitch", so I would just get on with it. At least it's a break from staring at a screen.

I had a manager once ask me ro make her tea. I explained I am not good adding milk and I make a pretty awful brew. She still wanted me to do it. Let's just say she never asked again!

@PanamaPattie

It's 2020 not 1950. If someone wants a cup of tea, they can bloody well makes it themselves and not expect the newest member of staff to do it. Lazy twats.

It is an admin job where it was made sealer at the interview that making tea was part of the role.

Make some really shit tea. Squeeze the fuck out of that teabag, add a tiny drop of milk and make sure it’s tepid. I doubt she’ll be thirsty again.
We make our own tea. No rota, it’s whoever is making. One colleague makes crap tea (coffee drinker) , I always pass.

Everybody saying she was told in the interview. Sounded more like a jokey comment than a "you'll be expected ted to make tea very day".

I've worked in secretarial roles for thirty years and never been expected to make my boss a brew this side of year 2000 to be honest. Everywhere I've worked we all offer and all contribute.

The Tea Bitch

My DS was ''The Sandwich Boy'' on a holiday job and found it really demeaning.
The pay was dire, and he was supposed to be trained.
He left and found a much better job.

Getting the sandwiches/making tea/coffee is all well and dandy if people take turns, but if you are meant to be getting training and are just used as a ''bod'' it is very annoying.
He takes turns making tea if he has someone working for him now.

It is very old fashioned - but at least you're not being asked to get their shopping/pick up dry cleaning/get their lunch everyday.
I work in the charity sector, so less common, but did experience owners that expected their PAs to do that sort of stuff in the private sector.

This is so bloody annoying. When I was an apprentice I had to make a green tea for the director as soon as I saw his car pull up. I didnt drink green tea or really know what it was so put milk in it the first few times hahaha.
I made it (correctly) very single day after that and he still didnt even know my name. Its like it makes them feel more important

@Ribrabrob

''Crapalot Teabags?''