Need Opinions

buckin

There is a rotation of phone duty to relieve the receptionist at lunch time. Since I've become a full time employee, I was informed today I would be put on the rotation. I have a problem with this.

A) Because only women are put on the rotation

I'm not in the same department and on the other side of the building.

C) My co-worker who has the exact same job is male and he is not on the rotation.

D) the two women who work in the parts department are not on the rotation but all other women are.

How do I address this?

Dear HR,

I'm a little confused as to why I am being put on the receptionist phone duty rotation. I do not mind helping out ofcourse, I'm just curious that (co-worker)and I have the same job title and he has never been on the rotation, neither are the women in the parts department to my knowledge.

I will be happy to help out ofcourse, I'm just wondering why I have been singled out of my department to participate? Thanks.

Buckin

Is that appropriate or should I just shut up and let the cheavinistic ways continue?

weelass24

*clicks send on buckin's email*

swimrbride

I would send it

Mrs_Liberto

Ditto Wee, except "ofcourse" should have a space between the two words.

swimrbride

I would send it.

Lambie.

I would send it.

buckin

I sent it. (with the correction of Of course! LOL)

We shall see. My boss didn't stick up for me even though he agrees with me.

DesignsOnYou

Are you sure it's not based on seniority?

I had this exact same scenario at my former job and I figured out it was the people who had been there longer that got out of phone coverage.

Also, I definitely see where you're coming from but are you too busy to help? When I helped run an office it kind of bothered me when people who had the time to help didn't b/c it wasn't their job (just to play devil's advocate here.)

buckin

DOY,

No, its not a seniority issue. Its been brought up before when I was on contract by other people how only women were ever asked. They will actually hire a temp rather than have a male fill in if the receptionist is out.

The time is not the issue. I would be happy to help out on occasion if I am not busy but with my job I have really busy periods and really slow ones and you never know when they will hit. If I'm on a rotation when I'm slammed and my boss is on one of his many trips than it will cause issues.

If it were a seniority issue, there would be about 10 of the new GUYS on the rotation.

I realize I work in a good ole boy industry but I have serious issues with this.

giaM28

woman = answering phones, it sucks

in my old company when the receptionist left my boss asked me and one of the accountants to answer the phones, we were the only 2 females in the office. I had an assistant who was male yet my boss still wanted me to answer the phones. i didnt listen and made my assistant answer the main line-boss flipped out and told ME to answer the phone. for the first week i was late on all my projects and my work was not up to par, i did this on purpose. Answering a non stop ringing phone all day long is a PITA and was not in my job description it was a major distraction. plus its pretty hard to be taken seriously when someone important calls for you and you answer the phone. arsehole.