1

I have over 200 users and close to 1,000 devices as network admin to manage in the company, including remote users spread across the country. Management isn’t real tech-savvy, and whenever there is an odd job at headquarters they seem to ask me to do it. Be it receptionist work for the call center, translating (I speak Spanish), setting up tables for company lunches, etc. I’m not too proud to do such things and have even scrubbed toilets here… but I have a master’s degree in Information Science… Do you guys get off-the-wall odd job requests? What would you say or do to let management know tech stuff and my time doing it matters?

93 Spice ups
2

I don’t mind pitching in, but scrubbing toilets? hell no. Not in a million years. I do enough cleaning at home.

54 Spice ups
3

Time to upgrade your employer.

93 Spice ups
4

Setting up tables - yes
receptionist - no
toilets - H3LL NO!!! I don’t care if there is a “Other duties as assigned stipulation” in your job description I am not cleaning up other peoples crap.

45 Spice ups
5

Odd jobs sure, what ever needs to get done. Toilets, no thanks.

6 Spice ups
6

IT means you are “IT” for everything in a smaller company. I’ve done all sorts of odd jobs at several jobs because I was young, capable, and, according to my boss, had free time to help with those things too.

Honestly, happy customers are more important than pride on some of these things as long as the ticket load is staying down and these tasks don’t get you too far behind.

8 Spice ups
7

I think I would probably have a problem with the hats that are not technical. Shit I can rebuild an engine and weld, but I am not working in the shop.

16 Spice ups
8

I wouldn’t scrub a toilet but I’ve done most of the other stuff. I don’t really get asked that anymore, it really depends on what size place you work.

1 Spice up
9

Like in the other thread - “Plumbing what do you do outside your normal duties?” - those of us who work in small companies tend to have the attitude of mucking in…

Shop floor? I’m not too proud to pick up a picknote or two and collect the products if we’re overrun with orders.

Telephone Cover? Don’t mind picking up the phone if our cust services staff are all on calls or in a (brief) meeting

I’d draw the line at being scheduled to do those tasks on a regular recurring basis though - nearly got dragged into that at my last desk - moved PDQ - and told the boss why.

8 Spice ups
10

I am a 3rd backup for a critical bank function. Usually only used for an emergency, but it happens.

It is kind of just extra job security for me. Also, now that I know the position, I can automate it better.

6 Spice ups
11

Other duties as assigned… dude you have a Masters degree. Are you being paid because you speak Spanish as well as English? At some point, you have to draw the line and say that you don’t have time… if you do have time for all of those things and also the number of users you support, something is wrong with that picture.

If it were me, I would ask myself these questions:

  1. Do I like where I am currently working? Decent pay, benefits, good company and good people?

If I answer “no” to any of the above, then I am polishing up my resume when the company starts asking me to do things outside of my job scope.

If I answer “yes” to all the above, then I can deal with helping out every now and then. Hopefully, you get a yearly review and can bring this up so your management knows and then you can also ask about being paid your worth.

I still would not do toilets… once… maybe if others were helping out (everyone pitches in).

14 Spice ups
12

that may get a bit squashed if everyone was helping out at the same time … perhaps just on a rota? :wink:

5 Spice ups
13

I draw the line at cleaning up after bodily fluids and excretions at work. That was NOT in my job description, and we have a janitor on staff for just that purpose.

7 Spice ups
14

I’ve had to vacuum a few times as we didn’t want cleaners entering some of the restricted areas… I’ll occasionally help carry things and take all the cardboard down to be recycled. That’s about it though. I don’t mind doing things outside my job scope (including receptionist stuff) but I’d never agree to doing anything I find unpleasant.

4 Spice ups
15

All in all I would not suck at cleaning toilets, considering the degree of hygiene of the keyboards and computers, that I have to handle on a daily basis.
But I do not count, I have a mania for cleanliness of the workplace.
I would not be competent enough in customer and suppliers receive.
But if they give me the pay of a seller, we could talk about it.

2 Spice ups
16

Next will be washing the boss’ car. Just say NO and look for a position where you receive the respect you deserve

2 Spice ups
17

I left my last job because I was hired to do one job, and 3 years later, I was doing the work of 3 teams for no additional pay, and no raises or promotions during that time, either.

Helping out once in a while, sure, I’ll do that. But when I’m regularly scheduled to do another team’s work (for a team who’s people got paid more than me, and were just screwing around while I took their workload), then no. Add on their pay to mine, or find someone else who’ll do it.

7 Spice ups
18

Scrubbing toilets is a lot more than should be expected from someone working in IT. If your workload is manageable, even with the odd jobs, and you like the company, then I would suggest that you stay. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t like working there anymore, it might be time to cut it off and find a new job.

2 Spice ups
19

I don’t clean restrooms at work. As for the other stuff, sure if you want to pay me twice what the normal people make (my normal pay) I will do it.

20

The last company I worked for was owned by a husband and wife. God help you if you were ever in the hall, parking lot, warehouse, showroom, etc. and they happened by. I got asked to help cut grass one time, drive someone to the airport, remove a wasp nest from the employee break area. Then, I actually started to question if they even knew who I was.

10 Spice ups