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!

Seems very old fashioned, but it’s a temp junior role & that's their expectation, too mention it at interview even, it’s obviously high on their list of requirements 😂

Just make the tea until you find something more suitable.

Omg, what’s the issue! Make the tea. If they are happy for you to take a break from working to sit around chatting and making tea, that’s what they need you to do. That’s the support they need. And no they mightn’t have time to do it. Yes it’s cheaper financially for you to do it rather then the manager. What is the issue?

It’s such a small thing and it will make the managers feel cared for

YANBU. I'm admin and whilst I have made tea it's because I'm being hospitable to guests or I'mmaking a drink for myself. I don'tdrink tea and my line manager prefers loose leaf, she sorts herself out. FWIW our Covid Risk Assessments prohibits people preparing food drinks for others.

They literally hired you to be the tea bitch. So be it.

Think of it as money for old rope.

We had a temp once who made a spreadsheet of which number drink from the machine the 9 people in the office had at which time - so X has #19 in the morning but only #24 after lunch. Then he went home one weekend and made a metal tray with 9 cup holders in it.

And then he fashioned a space for the tray and the spreadsheet in the middle of the office and became less attentive about getting drinks because 'it was all so easy now anyone can do it'

I have never worked anywhere where junior roles are expected to make tea, how demeaning and pathetic of the senior staff. I wouldn't ever expect anyone to make me tea, either we all take in turns or we just do our own.

Deliberately making bad tea is a crime , so don't do that.

Personally I'd make the tea and do it well. Accept that this is important to your boss (everyone has their little quirks) and when you leave it will be with a good rep. You never know when you might want a favour or reference from these people.

The issue isn't whether tea or coffee should be made for others. That is a wider debate. The issue here is you were clearly told it was part of the role, a role you accepted. Therefore be professional and make the tea / coffee and do it well.

If you are being hinted at, then you clearly aren't making them enough. Agree a rota or times for a drinks run.

I wouldn't want to make drinks either but it is part of your role and, as it is a temp job, suck it up and make sure you are not saddled with it at your next job.

If it had been stipulated as one of your duties then you should do it.

When I was a Secretary
in the bank there was also an irritating clerk with ideas above his station. "Oh go on sweet cheeks make me a percolator coffee, no one will know". "Sweet cheeks" dutifully made him a coffee from the Manager's percolator but firstly I rubbed a bit of washing up liquid around the rim of the cup. He never asked for one again.

Ooh, 50 / 50

Well, you were told at the outset that you were the tea bitch somI guess suck it up

As a manager myself I wouldn’t dream of asking someone else to make my tea or wash my cup. I’m more than capable of doing it myself even now when we barely get chance to stop for lunch.

Sitting waiting for you to come in so you’ll make her tea is bloody barking!

If it's not getting in the way of other duties I'd just go with it. It's a bit rubbish but it does sound like it's part of the job.

@PanamaPattie how do you suggest a chief exec of a hospital “sorts his diary” to avoid back to back Zoom meetings. He’s not calling the meetings public health, dept of health, NHS England are. He’s quite busy

So you’re getting paid well to make tea for nice people and you’re on here moaning about it. Ffs just be thankful you have a job, get over yourself and just make the fucking tea. It’s not hard.

To be honest, if they want to waste their money getting me to stand around and make tea, I'm happy to oblige! I'd take my sweet time over it as well!

Sounds like a cushty little job OP!

If tea making is part of your job, you have no gripe. If it’s for a meeting or you are in a pa type role, you have no gripe. Juniors tend to fare better if they try to do as their managers ask.
Hinting might just be gentle teasing, but I can see it’s irritating. I also think it’s better for people to take turns making tea to get everyone standing up and moving around a little.

While it's definitely annoying (especially as your manager seems to put more effort into hinting for tea than would be required to actually make the tea) it does sound like it was made pretty obvious in the interview that this was expected so I think you've got to suck it up unfortunately.

very old fashioned. I haven't been asked to make anybody tea in 20 years.

But....... If it's a temporary job, then maybe just make the tea really badly! Act like you're prepared to do anything and then make the tea badly. I have resorted to that tactic once myself.In 2001.

so surprised it's still going on

Why does it bother you

Are you too busy? Or do you see it as something beneath you?

It’s annoying they communicate it through passive aggressive hints but I’d just do it (unless working too hard to find the time)

Maybe look for a different workplace if it upsets you daily though

When you say you have an admin job, are you a PA/secretary?

I am on the fence with this one. It's old-fashioned in principle, yes. But on the other hand it sounds like they were very clear from the start that this is what they expect the post holder to do. I don't see the point in asking them to clarify, it's clear enough.

It's a strange one, when in the office, this varies between our teams. I always make my own drinks because I know how I like them. We don't normally do rounds. But some teams do rounds, including senior people. In some teams only admin staff do rounds. I think it just depends on the attitude and atmosphere in the workplace. I personally don't think it should just be you and long term you probably need to find a more modern place for yourself.

@Angelina82

So you’re getting paid well to make tea for nice people and you’re on here moaning about it. Ffs just be thankful you have a job, get over yourself and just make the fucking tea. It’s not hard.

While this is on the one hand true and a healthy way of looking at it while you're standing beside a boiling kettle, when they look around and decide who to let go, the woman who earns 30k for making tea will be the first on the list (wild guess at salary) so the OP is not crazy for strategising her way out of making tea surely?!

I haven't read other comments but your phrase 'the tea bitch' is very disrespectful of people who do make the tea and for that YABU.

I haven't worked in an office for many years but when I did, in the dark ages of the 70s, it was the normal practice for PAs etc to make the tea. I very cheekily suggested my boss took turns in one job, he laughed but agreed so try it.