Would you be offended if a 'superior' asked you to make coffee?

[globex]

A senior editor asked me to go and buy 6 coffees and bring them to a meeting she was having - I wasn't invited. I'm a production editor, if that means anything to anyone, so not an intern or on work experience.

I was fairly upset because I couldn't imagine her asking anyone else - am I being overly sensitive?

Oooh, do you happen to work in Camden? And is it a prestigious journal starting with L?

I would be beyond pissed off if someone asked me to go and get coffee. Although I sometimes offer (but expect the most senior person in the room to pay for it).

WEll, I get really worked up if DH askes me to make tea coffee.

I would have gone and got the coffees, then taken them in and said "Your're lucky to get coffee, I don't usually do this."

People who don't know me laugh weakly. People who know me roll their eyes.

Give her your shopping list next time you see her

I'm the most senior person in the office and I would often make coffee for everyone - staff and clients. In fact I used to do it deliberately to show that I didn't think it was a menial task. It isn't.

I've also asked staff if they wouldn't mind popping out to pick up a few coffees if there's a meeting, or make my boss a nice cup of tea (she wouldn't drink mine ) - but I've taken the time to develop the relationship so they know that it's not me being a bitch.

I would object to being treated like the office junior too. But I'd say "sorry I'm really busy right now - why don't you try

Heehee, Spillage! Its not the L*ncet, no - one of the others. Although I just saw a job advertised there - do you know what the company is like?

I shouldn't really keep this thread going but I'm trying to work through my issues..

I can't move within the company - that's one of my main problems. I can have my bosses job when he retires - I think they're hoping that's what will happen as people DO get institutionalised and stay forever. But I can't wait for twenty years for a pay rise/interesting job.

Before I went on maternity leave things were looking rosy - I thought I would be moving into editorial. More money, working from home, interesting job etc etc etc.. But since I got back its been made clear that this isn't going to happen.

I feel that my little production department sometimes get treated like faithful servants - its all 'how would we manage without you' blah blah blah but with no real respect.

Oh yes, I know the company (worked there for many years), but I left having got a bruise against the glass ceiling I'd constantly been hitting.

Is there someone you can get to do it next time, kind of like pass the parcel but with coffee

Wld not bother me at all.

My boss asked me once, my face must have been a picture because he never asked me again!

I asked a mos to do something once and she replied saying she did have a degree, i told her i'd find someone without one to do it then

The first rule of making other people's coffee in the workplace is to do it appallingly badly or get the order utterly wrong. Then you won't get asked again.

If it's any comfort, I am a pretty senior academic and some moron a colleague recently suggested that I was being awkward by refusing to rustle up sandwiches for the research reading group meeting to save the department money. I believe my words in response were 'Fuck off, you can't be serious' after which there was a 20-30 minute debate about the escalating costs of providing catering in universities.

She has not shared any chocolates from her secret truffle stash with me since. Life can be very harsh.

I would think absolutely nothing of it. In fact I get asked to make tea and coffee all the time. Then again the boss is often to be seen taking the bins out.

I would also think nothing of asking a colleague to make tea if needed. Someone has to do it.