WWYD - Work Issue

[JoiseyMom]

What would you do in this situation??

Some background:
I work in an office part time, with 7 other people. There is the owner (full time), his wife (part time same hours as me 10 - 2), 1 full time tech, 1 full time Cust rep, 1 part time bookkeeper, 1 part time warehouse worker, 1 other work who was pt but looks like he is doing more hours he does customer service/tech and computer work. I am do customer service work, process orders (we have an online store), answer phones, update the website, emails etc.. The owner and the ft tech are the ones who clean the bathrooms. Everyone usually vacuums (lots of coffee beans around), depending on work load. There is a coffee bar (espresso machine, syrups, coffee grinders - big counter) some repairs and testing of machines is done here too. It winds up being a mess. It should be cleaned as you use it...but it never is. The same goes for the mini fridge. FT Tech had a hissy fit on Friday cause the other tech took a took and messed up his clean workroom, and of course said I didn't do it. This happens all the time, the other tech is a kid in his 20's. This is ongoing. Then the complaints went on about the mess the coffee area is and all the equipment (espresso machines - we sell them) are all over the office (these are machines that are demos or being repaired or waiting for the client to pick up the repaired machine).

So bosses wife decides to set up a chore list and every week we all take turns (except for warehouse worker who cleans the warehouse). I am not happy. Ok, I have no control on where the machines are or what happens to them. I also don't drink espresso, so I NEVER am in the coffee are or use the fridge. I do vacuum when I have no office work to do. If I shred, and make a mess I always clean it up. I dust my office and keep my area clean. Another biggie..when I was interviewing I actually asked is cleaning bathrooms a requirement. Why you may ask?? I will tell you. 8 Years ago I worked for BB and Beyond..they were just opening up and I needed a job. They never at any time mentioned cleaning bathrooms. Never even dawned on me. One nite, we are just setting up the store right now, not even open to the public, and the manager asks for a volunteer. Never says what for until he gets a patsy. Then the patsy is told they have to clean the public bathrooms. UGH!! Well I was there for 3 months before I was asked to do this. Now I know the kids, when told to do it, never did. I wouldn't do that. I talked to the manager and said, that this was never mentioned as a job requirement (closing shift only as far as I could tell). I then said I will not clean a public toilet, especially for what they were paying me. At the time I was said ok...go do this. The next time I was at work, I of course was called in to talk to all the supervisors. They were really nice about it, and said well we clean them too. I said that is great..but I am not cleaning a public restroom. They gave me the option of quitting or they would fire me...my choice. I said thanks, it was nice working for you and went back home . So after this happened, I ask on interviews!! LOL. I asked when I interviewed for Staples and I asked for my current job. I was told nope, not part of my job.

What would be the best way to approach my boss?? I really like my job, and the people I work with. I am busy and I enjoy it. Now, I was thinking of just saying boss, I have an issue with the chore list and explaining my side, and then leave the rest up to him. If it's a deal breaker, then he has to let me go.

Suggestions???

 

[worm761]

Is there enough employment opportunities in your area that you could make this an issue? Or do you not need your job? You have to ask yourself those two questions before bringing this up. I have always worked in restaurants and even as the boss, I cleaned bathrooms. I have NEVER asked an employee to do something I was not willing or did not do myself. IMHO, if the boss is also cleaning toilets, you are out of luck. You are going to be required to do what everyone else is. Ask for gloves. They will protect you from the germs that the bleach is killing.

 

[disykat]

I teach and at every school I've ever been in, teachers take turns cleaning the teacher's lounge. Even the years I work part time and never step foot in it, I always take my turns. It's not written in any of our contracts, but it has to be done. Not doing my turn would just mean others would have to do it more often and that certainly wouldn't make me any friends!

I'm a little confused by your post - you're being asked to clean up a coffee area, not a bathroom - right? Are you sure that's something you want to give up a job you are otherwise happy with over?

 

[Stacerita]

Most job descriptions always have a "and other duties" line in there. Is cleaning up coffee grounds really something you would want to make a deal over?

 

[Acklander]

What would I do? I'd clean the coffee grounds, but I enjoy my job and enjoy my paycheck.

 

[NHdisneylover]

You asked if you had to clean the bathrooms and were told now--but you do not mention that you are being asked to clean a bathroom, so I am a bit confused Either way, while I hate cleaning bathrooms and mopping I have done both as a small part of retail jobs. It was never my regular duty (nor does it sound like it is yours) but rather something we all took turns with as needed. I cannot imagine risking an otherwise good job over this. So, to answer your question *I* would clean up those items when asked, grumble about it a bit to my souse and then let it go.

 

[LuvLDM]

Your post is long and a little confusing.
What exactly are you being asked to clean, the bathroom, coffee area or both?

If these chores are now required of all staff members then I would just suck it up & do my part.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'd just take my turn and clean.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Many many years ago I worked for a small company that the owner & the wife both worked. Long story short it was hell. Everytime they would have a fight at home or on the way to the office they fought all day long. One time the fight got so bad that the husband flew into a rage, told the office staff (myself included) to get out...just like that ..fired. Filed an unemployment claim which he fought & we then won in court. Sounds to me like your office is pleasant, I would weigh my options, if you need the job roll up your sleeves & do what you are being asked to do. If it disgusts you that badly then quit.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

That's part of many jobs. I've had to clean bathrooms at every restaurant I work in. It's not the end of the world. I'm not a janitor, but I have to clean my ride everyday. It sounds like cleaning has always been part of your job, they're just being more formal about it. I think that you are making a mountain out of a molehill. If everybody else is doing it, then you should be expected to as well.

 

[Handbag Lady]

They call it work and not play for a reason. You always have to do something you dislike every now and again.

 

[kellyg403]

I would just take my turn and do whatever is needed regardless of what was discussed in the interview. Things change, sometimes in order to keep my job I have to do things. General housekeeping is usually a part of most positions, even if you work in an office with a nightly cleaning crew.

In your situation especially, it would seem that it would be perfectly acceptable for everyone to pitch in. Seems like a family oriented atmosphere. Small group of people with quite a few chores.

Besides, there might be a time when you have to use that restroom, so it won't hurt to make sure its clean correctly. Is it really 'public' as in the general public comes in and uses it or is it an office 'public' restroom as in only office personnel (in your case what appears to be a staff of about 6-8) that uses it?

Anyway, in the end, yes I would do whatever was asked of me to keep a position that I like and gets me a paycheck.

Kelly

 

[Art 1]

I would just do it.

 

[Carly_Roach]

How badly do you need the job? If you're willing to be unemployed more than you're willing to clean, then by all means make a stink about it and take the consequences. If not, then suck it up and do the tasks outlined to you by your boss.

I can guarantee that if your situation was happening in Michigan, there'd be at least 100 people (or more) who would be willing to start tomorrow and would clean the coffee area or the bathrooms just so they'd be employed.

 

[anniemae]

Honestly, I would just do it. I used to work in a small office. To save money they let the outside cleaning staff go, and we all had to take turnes cleanning the bathroom, the break room, vacuming etc. Sometimes you just have to grin and bear it and be thankful you have a job. Yes, it was frustrating because there were obvious offenders who made a mess in the break room and did not clean up, crumbs everywhere, spills left uncleaned etc. But I liked the company and just looked at it as part of the job.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would go to work and work. If I had to clean bathrooms or a coffee bar, it would not matter to me.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Not that big of a deal IMO. I have cleaned many bathrooms(even public ones) in my day. Did I like it? No. Did I do it? yes. A paycheck was important to me. I think maybe you have a very high opinion of yourself if you think you are too good to do a little cleaning. I know thousands of people right now wold LOVE to have any job even if it means cleaning.

 

[lspst8]

At both my office jobs, we have had schedules to clean the office kitchen/refrigerators. Not my favorite activity, but oh well. I never complain because I don't want to be seen as a complainer, especially about something that barely takes any time. At my last job, I NEVER put anything in the work refrigerator, but I still helped clean when it was my turn.

If the owners put their own names in the rotation and take their turns cleaning, I really don't see much of a problems. Every single person is being treated equally. Yeah, the person who makes the mess should be the one to clean it up, but it looks like that isn't going to happen. The cleaning schedule seems pretty fair to me.

 

[lovesmurfs]

If I had an employee there for customer service for 4 hours a day and wound up paying 1/2 hour (or more) for them to do janitorial duties, I'm not exactly sure that would be money well spent.

That said, there are always parts of a job I don't like -- (meeting minutes....ugghhhh....) but you suck it up and do it. If I wanted a job where I only did what I wanted to, I'd be self-employed and hire out what I don't want to do.

 

[LisaInNc]

I guess I would decide if it's worth losing my job. You can raise the issue but I see it causing problems with the other employees if you don't participate in your share of the cleaning.

Pick your battles, if this is a biggie to you then say something. Otherwise I would just deal with it. In this economy I would clean a bathroom (wearing a hazmat suit probably ) before I would lose my job.

Lisa