A washing up rota at work. I don’t use anything.

[Justryingtofigureitout]

Someone had set up a washing up rota at work and I don’t use a single item. Am I being unreasonable by saying no?

I would assume the system works on the basis that, if you haven't put your stuff in the machine, it doesn't get washed. Any office manager with any sense either sorts out an official deputy for the office assistant or sets up a rota for when they aren't there.

This is definitely NOT the case in our office thank you very much.

First, the office assistant’s job always included hands on office organisation and management - that is what she is there for - and the role was described as including that from the outset. Someone has to be a permanent presence and in overall charge in these days of hot desking and home working,

Half of her role is admin and in the other half she organises couriers, bins, recycling, alarm checks, waters plants, keeps loo rolls and cleaning supplies stocked, also stationery supplies and she oversees the tidiness and cleanliness of the kitchen area.

Second, she is in charge and she doesn’t let anyone forget it! 😀

If one of our employees left a dirty plate or any kind of mess on the kitchen surface she would go and tell them without hesitation to tidy it up. And she would do that with our blessing.

And woe betide anyone who messes with her recycling system!

So kindly keep your incorrect assumptions to yourself! I have been that assistant in the past and I know how crap the job can be if not managed properly. So I make sure that it IS managed properly. Clients come in to our office for meetings so it is very important that one person is in charge of that space and is there at least four days a week, and her pay reflects the importance we attach to the role.

And by the way, when she is off sick, it’s me that steps in. Not any other employee, female or otherwise.

YANBU.

I have a new appreciation for my offices with facilities staff and a dishwasher:

I worked in a school, where someone was paid to bring the cake and fruit in, make pots of tea/coffee ready for break. Then he would take all the dirties,load and set the dishwasher going and then empty it later on.

Teacher's have maximum 15 minutes to get a drink, snack and quickly catch up with colleagues and pop to loo.

This employee made everything much easier for everyone.

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest to take part in a washing up rota.
I would rather function in a place that isn't a biohazard from other people's laziness so I'd do it.
Yes, people should wash up their own as they go along, but if it's not happening it forces the lazy sods to do their turn.
I wouldn't say you're being unreasonable not to want to do it but sometimes we do things we don't want to do and survive!

I really applaud that. The importance of these roles are foolishly under-rated imho. Usually by male management who cut costs in the wrong places.

Sorry for multiple posts but this is my area.

Op I would try and collectively persuade management that this is a poor idea.

First because there will always be those who do it conscientiously and those who don’t. And this leads to unnecessary squabbles and resentments.

Also bc post-Covid in particular, it’s incumbent on the employer to provide as hygienic and safe workspace as possible. Also, noro incidences are climbing atm.

Third, these days you need to encourage people back in to the work space. Not put them off it. And frankly people have quicker lunches if they don’t go out to eat. (Note everyone should try and get out at lunch time for a walk if possible!)

Fourth, ND employees will find the potential yuck factor difficult.

Finally, when there is a rota, it almost encourages the people who are not doing the washing up that day, to pile it on to the person who is, and be less tidy overall. It’s human nature!

I’d refuse to take part in a rota in your shoes op.

I'm glad to hear it. It sounds as though it works well in your office because of clearly defined roles and the office assistant having authority within her remit rather than other employees simply being allowed to see her as "junior".

However where a dishwasher is provided without the rest of the organisation and staffing arrangements it actually makes things worse IME because people assume they no longer ever need to wash up and indeed can create/ abandon as much washing up as they want, because that mythical "someone" will "just" stick their dirty things in the dishwasher "when it's empty" (a process that also happens by magic, or for which there's a resentment causing rota...

Yanbu. washing up rotas (or any work rota in general tbh) at work don’t work anyway. Someone goes on leave for a week, someone else is off sick, someone else is off site for a course or a meeting. Then someone who is part time is roted in for a day they don’t work.

This

I remember they tried to pull this shit on me 20 years ago when I was in my 20s.

Crappy office kitchen, always full of dirty dishes and stinking food in the fridge. I would go in there to make a tea at most, hated it.

Someone overbearing did a rota. We were put in pairs, me with a senior male director, who was a slob and was no way going to do any cleaning.

I said no, I'll clean up after myself, but I'm not paid to clean other people's mess. And anyway, we all know he won't, so I'll be doing on my own. No way.

And that was when I was younger and very junior. OP, you can do it too.

Say you don't use anything so won't be part of the rota, people should be doing their own stuff - it's weird they aren't!

If needed say you have a skin allergy so can't.

It's not about pitching in, it's them not wanting to pay for a cleaner and seniors not doing their own stuff - but I bet they aren't on the rota.

seniors not doing their own stuff - but I bet they aren't on the rota

I was also wondering about this. In my workplace everyone cleans up after themselves and that includes the CEO. Another reason we have no need for a rota.

Surely the lazy, the slovenly will continue to be so even when it’s their turn on the rota?

If they can’t be arsed with their own stuff, what chance they’ll clean to the standards of people who already clean their own cups n’such?