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WWYD about this unconventional job?

2 replies

JGACC · 17/09/2020 14:20

Hi all, I'm on a months trial for a job (I said I wasn't sure about accepting it to employer so they said to do a trial). There are some fantastic parts - autonomy, massive scope to have measurable impact in the business, interesting products etc.

There's also some downsides I'm finding really tough and I just wondered if other women on here think I'd be reasonable discussing these with employer or if I just need to harden up!

  • It is an all male team apart from me. I was concerned about this but to be fair they have actually all been really welcoming and great. But long hours mean my only daily company is men and I do struggle with that.
  • The office itself is pretty grim. A cleaner comes round once a week to have a quick wipe around. Buying cleaning supplies, loo roll (it's currently run out) and also fridge supplies like milk is up to us. I'll admit I'm used to an office with weekly fruit bowl and milk delivery etc.

-The toilet is pretty much just a cupboard in the office so there is no way you can use it without being heard. I have managed to have a wee a few times when office is empty but right now I'm writing this out on my lunch break with legs crossed and I just want to cry. Am I stupid for not wanting to wee with a team of men listening?! God knows what I will do when it is that time of the month. Probably drive to the local supermarket in my lunch break. So stupidly close to crying about that.

  • I had asked about toilet situation when I started and it was promised new ones would be put in in a new portacabin/office space but logistics have gone wrong and there is no promise of this happening anytime soon.

-I've been appointed as a Sales and Marketing Manager to improve website, marketing, branding, retail space, CRM etc and as it's a small business it's very hands on with lots to juggle, which I do love. However, this includes customer service and sales as my desk is in a retail space. So I'm constantly halfway through working with data then picking up the phone to sort out someone's missing delivery or writing for the website then a customer comes in, or even on the phone to the website builders while customers are waiting to be served. I just get so frustrated with the amount of distractions.

I do really enjoy a lot of parts of the job but I'll admit the toilet situation is just making me so stressed that I can't see it working long term.

I am tempted to try to negotiate a certain amount of hours working at home or the head office (no customer distractions) purely on marketing project work so that I can work for even half an hour undisrupted...preferably a good 2 or 3! Do you think this is reasonable even though they want someone on customer service too?

I have kept a part time work from home job I am currently furloughed on (both employers aware) and could just reject this job and carry on with that although it is (a fairly needed) £700.00 a month less. I have other opportunities for freelance work too.

What would you do in this situation? I'll admit if it wasn't for coronavirus I wouldn't have taken the job on but there is massive scope for growth.

At least writing this distracted me from desperate wee situation for a bit.

OP posts:
FlorenceNightshade · 17/09/2020 16:22

Hmmm it sounds like you are expected to do a lot under the umbrella of your job title. Are you seriously the only one who can deal with customer service? Does your desk have to be on the “shop floor” so to speak? Can you speak to your boss to organise a regular delivery of essentials? Can you suggest more regular cleaning to your boss or some sort of rota system to ensure the place is hygienic?

I think what you’ve suggested is sensible, time away from the office to focus on work with no distractions. It sounds like your thinking long term so why not put together a list of deal breakers and take it to your boss. If you have a solid back up plan then what do you have to lose?

Bunglemom · 18/09/2020 09:21

Agree with the PP...

I work in a very male dominated office in the building construction industry and can totally agree with the points above, our office sounds very similar (apart from the customer facing side, we only have the Project managers in the office and us admins)
We only have 1 loo too so makes it a bit awks to use the loo but if you've gotta go youve gotta go!
We set up a stationary account and it also does industry sized tea/coffee/loo rolls etc so maybe that may be worth a look into.
Like you i came from a very corporate background (think plush office, carpet you could sink into as well as plants that were in the office and treated like royalty!) so i understand this is a very big shock...

If you have other plans why not take it to the boss, not with the problems but with the solutions to them and see what could happen.. worse case is nothing but then best case is somewhere you could be longterm and failing that you dont have to stay so you are in a win win position really

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