Thursday, May 17, 2007

advice

My soon to be ex-bosses have asked me to cover for the receptionist again, and we all know how great it was last time. At least this time I have a few days' notice instead of being told the morning of.

So what do I do? I just told them that I get behind in my own work when I'm forced to sit and do nothing at someone else's desk while I cover for something that is not at all in my job description. I will bring up the issue of certain CSRs (NOT the accounting department!) that are available to do it, especially those with a Y chromosome. But I might also not come to work that day. I don't have a new job yet, so I will be homeless if I quit now. But I might need another hookie day. I am definitely not sitting at the front desk again.

So what do you guys think? And I need actual advice I can use, people (you know who you are!).
I have til Tuesday to decide.

19 comments:

mar said...

your bosses are male or female?
honestly, i think your approach of bringing up how only females covered for rw (& we all know why) and how the csrs are more available to be away from their positions for a day than you are is the best way to go. because that is so not cool. and i think it ought to be an hr issue if they continue to pull only female employees out of their jobs to cover rw.

Count Mockula said...

I think being straightforward about how you get behind was a great idea. I'd continue to do be straightforward.

flutter said...

I'd suck it up, and get a new job. Arguing the point, calid though it may be, is pointless at this juncture, they have made it clear they don't care.

super des said...

mar - the President is male, Office Manager is female, and New Boss is female, though she doesn't act like she's any sort of boss.

count- I'm going to be. If they want me to do my job, I can't do someone else's.

flutter - I am getting a new job - there's no question about that. But since I don't have one yet, I need to keep this one so I continue to get paid. Otherwise, I would have been out so long ago!

Suzanne said...

Don't quit yet, listen to Count, and it'll work out in the end.

super des said...

Yeah, the count's smart.

Jbeeky said...

It sucks that you have to suck it up.

super des said...

Suckity suck suck suck.

Brillig said...

You were a bloggin' fool today!!! Wow! I missed so much!

I agree that being straightforward is the best approach. And I too think that they ought to have it pointed out to them that they have only been asking women to cover for her. They are definitely stupid, but maybe they are too stupid to even realize they've done that. I think you should (calmly and unemotionally, of course)point it out to them. And if nothing changes, they deny it, or they make sexist excuses, you have a lot of ammo for going to HR. (Or just skip it all and go to HR directly. Why not?) And it's always fun to make a stink, right? Especially when you're on your way out...

Good luck. Can't wait to hear how it goes!

Suzanne said...

I warned you about that "asshole idiots" label...

super des said...

Well as long as I have this job, that label's gonna be used a lot.

mdog said...

i mean, if they haven't fired R, there's no way in hell they're going to fire you, especially for bringing up valid points.

is there any way to politely inquire 'why does the cranky-ass, mouthing off to the boss, poor work output, cell phone talking receptionist still f'ing work here anyway?'

yeah, probably not.

super des said...

I'm definitely going to bring up that there are other people that can do reception and no one else to do my job. Ad hopefully very soon I'll tell them to shove it and walk out that door.

Serena Woodward said...

In a perfect world you would be able to go to your boss and say: "I feel that I shouldn't be asked to do this again. It causes me to get behind on my work when one of the CSR's could be handling it just as easily." Sadly, in the REAL world....yeah. This is why Serena usually just ends up quitting jobs. I'm not as smart as my advice is....well, I'm not as patient.

The only thing I can really suggest is that you go to HR. That's what they are there for. Of course, that depends on what the HR department in this particular company is like.

I have a question, have you tried getting on with any of the work from home companies? Not a real glamour job, but they are flexible and make it easy to look for a job you actually like.

super des said...

There is no HR department per se. I think technically New Boss is supposed to handle that stuff, but she doesn't seem to notice or care that she's in a management position. She always refers me to someone else.

That's the problem with a small company.

I have looked into the at-home jobs a little, but not much. From what I've found, most are worse than office jobs.

LittlePea said...

I have no advice for you des-sorry.

I did get caught up on your posts and I have to say those pictures you took in Dc had me cracking up!!

super des said...

Glad you liked 'em! and I'm also glad you're feeling better!

Anonymous said...

Oh gosh Des...
I would tell them the getting behind thing really is frustrating for you. Maybe throw something in there about how you want to do the best job you can, and you don't want to half ass the job that you are most qualified for.

Maybe also something about how maybe an office-wide receptionist training would be a smart idea and have people rotate with the job so that everyone has to do it eventually.

super des said...

Those are good ways to put it. I don't think the office-wide receptionist thing will ever work, and I don't want other people in the same position that I'm in. I WILL tell them that we need 2 receptionists, however.

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