Question for all

[lexin]

I've also asked around the managers of my office about this, but this came up in my union work recently and I thought I'd find out what everyone thinks.

Poll #7675 Reasonable ad-hoc tasks

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 57

You employ a person whose normal job is to do post opening, stamping, preparation of papers, scanning - adminstrative tasks, in other words. Would you regard it as reasonable for them to be asked to do "sweeping out the filthy basement" as an ad-hoc task?

Yes
3 (5.3%)

No
9 (15.8%)

In the context of an office move or "tidy friday" when everyone's mucking in, but not otherwise
44 (77.2%)

Something else I will tell you about in comments
1 (1.8%)

Comments

[pocketmouse]

I work at a library, and I do largely admin-type stuff, plus the library usual of putting books away, shifting collections, and all that. And I've also been asked to put together a desk for a new scanner and dust the shelves. The cleaning crew isn't supposed to touch the shelves where the books are. So I guess I'd have to ask why the admin was asked to do it, and why the basement was being cleaned at this time. None of your answer options really fit.

[lexin]

There were two admin assistants, and my member was asked to clean out the basement. The other admin (also a man, similar age) wasn't.

I don't know why they decided that the basement had to be done right then, but the employer has been manufacturing reasons to get rid of him for some time. This particular try didn't succeed.