Treated like crap at work

[Saymynamesaymyname1984]

Hi there,

I wondered AIBU when it comes to this. I work as a reception manager at a sheet metal company in a busy London office.

Weekly the company has meetings which is understandable but it’s really starting to make me feel like crap, we have to make the men their drinks for meetings, everything has to stop for the drinks. It doesn’t matter if I’m on lunch, they still expect me to stop my lunch and make drinks.

Last I was in the middle of a teams meeting with a client and one employee came out and asked for drinks which I carried in 16 cups of tea on a tray with is very heavy, I was then asked “where’s our lunch” I replied with get it yourself which probably didn’t go down well.

AIBU to feel like I’m unappreciated by having to do this, I feel because my job is lowest scale I have to do this. I never get a thank you and they never bring their cups out. Not to mention their McDonald’s rubbish that they leave too. wwyd in this situation?

What does it say about this in your job description?

If it doesn't include these things, take it up with your line manager.

If that gets you no joy take it up with ACAS. I'm going to assume you're not in a union, as it seems hardly any Mumsnetters are.

Providing refreshments can be part of a job role
its very standard

however not allowing you an uninterrupted break, being rude and leaving rubbish / never clearing up after them selves isn’t appropriate behaviour from them

Tbh making drinks for meetings has been a fairly standard part of reception jobs wherever I’ve worked. The rudeness and mess isn’t on and I’d be raising that.

Is this meeting a regular thing the diary and is it part of your job description that you are expected to organise lunch and drinks?

If so, you need to plan ahead and order the food so its ready. If its a weekly thing and part of your role its not unreasonable, although it sounds as if they are rude and entitled in the way they speak to you.

Or are they just expecting you to drop existing commitments for them? If its the latter then you need to speak to your manager to be clear as to whether this is part of your role.

its the rudeness that gets me, it’s so horrible And the lunch I’m never told beforehand just expected to get it when they ask and moan it’s late when I do manage to get to tesco around the corner.
I don’t book these meetings the two meeting Co-ordinators do all that.

Is this in your role description? It doesn't sound pleasant though, a truly horrid environment actually. I don't think they are likely to change their culture, though. Could you start looking for something new?

It sounds anachronistic and outdated

Can you disappear over lunchtime if it is your break

Yanbu

Could you ask to buy a hot water dispenser so that they can self serve in the meeting room? Put a tray out with coffee, tea etc.

If it's expected as part of the job role, maybe look for ways to make your life easier.

If this is part of your role, there are some things you can do to help yourself.

Talk to the meeting coordinators. Find out when the meetings are. You can then organise your day to take drinks in at the start. You can be prepared to get the lunch eg go out at 1130 to Tesco and fetch it, ready for them at 12.

The rudeness is obviously unacceptable but this approach might remove the irritation of it all being last minute and interrupting you.

^ this

Pre-empt what is needed so you are one step ahead to keep them quiet.

It's not pleasant but just clear up after.

If it's part of your job description and you don't like it then look for another job.

The co-ordinators should give reception ie you notice. At least 24 hours in advance.

Are you expected to sit through your lunch break waiting for them? If not, then go out and leave them to it.

They should leave the meeting room clean, the way they found it.

If your work doesn't have these basic rules (which they ought to) it's a crap place to work frankly.

Catering for meetings is fairly standard in a lot of reception roles. As it is a weekly meeting and your support is required there are a couple of things you can do to make your job easier:

1. Email the meeting organiser/chair beforehand to ask if lunch is required.
2. Don’t go on lunch over the meeting start time.
3. Get your mugs set up on trays and kettles boiled a few minutes before the start time to make it less rushed when they start arriving.

I can imagine the people in the meeting being equally frustrated by this situation. Your reluctance to do the job will come across as lazy and disorganised. You need to find out what is expected of you. Even if it’s not explicit in your JD, it will be covered by the “any other reasonable duties” clause.

We only do water jugs and glasses now.

To save money probably as latterly we had catering staff doing it and that must have cost a lot.

Prior to them being hired we had to do it. We had two big thermoses: one of hot water next to a jar of teabags, and one of coffee (we would make). We just put out milk near the meeting time. The rest would be done earlier.

It was booked the day before and because the large thermoses stay warm for hours nobody had to be in the room to pour so we got peace and people would help themselves.

We asked that used cups and spoons be put on the tray on the credenza. A large waste paper bin with a binbag in it was left for rubbish.

The rule was nothing left on the Meeting table. It worked really well.

If any manager didn't follow the rules and the room was a mess they had to do it themselves next time ie make their own coffee etc. That stopped them being inconsiderate. Management supported us.

Whether your management would care though I'm not sure. They sound like 50s throwbacks.