Why am I getting told off at work for saying I can't help with something?

[Anonymous]

I'm an Office Assistant at a law firm and back up cover to reception.

My manager is away looking after her father and occasionally working from home.

I've had a sore foot recently and it hurts when I walk on it.

Our receptionist emailed me asking if I could do the drinks trolley but I said no because of my foot pain.

Now HR is having a meeting with me to why I said no.

This is ridiculous right? They can't make me push the trolley with a sore foot.

[Oliverlogan263]

Whoa that's total bs, sis! Why're they turning this into a whole thing? It's not like you were being lazy - you gave a legit medical reason.

I'd be mad annoyed too if HR's trying to get on your case over something so small. Like chill, you said you can't walk cause your foot hurts! Anyone with a brain could understand that.

Personally I'd go into this meeting fired up. Like you don't need to defend yourself - turn it back on them and ask what exactly the problem is. Make THEM explain why a sore foot isn't a good enough reason.

Tell them your doctor or physio can write a note too if they really wanna make an issue of it. But I wouldn't let them try make YOU feel bad here when you did nothing wrong! Stand your ground girl.

And if they keep pushing, don't be afraid to mention finding a new job if they won't respect basic health stuff. Bet that'll shut them up quick. You don't deserve the stress, queen!

[Asker]

Thank you for your suggestion about them explaining to me.
I said in the group email that this isn't in my contract so I shouldn't be asked to do this.
I'm still going to say that in the meeting.
I'm lifting boxes daily with files in them that weighs about 8kgs.

I remember your user name from last year. I'm the one with those two receptionists calling in sick.

Thought things would get better here, buy they're still away and now this.
Definitely looking for a new job now

[Asker]

In the email my boss was like "our partners and secretaries work very hard, at the end of the week they would like some refreshments and a light chat"

In the meeting I'm going to say, I work hard too.

[Oliverlogan263]

Girrrrrl, don't even get me started on them partners and secretaries! What are they, royalty? Newsflash - you be busting your butt all week too keeping that joint running smooth.

You absolutely right to stand your ground about that foot and not being in your contract. They can take their little 'drinks trolley and chats' and shove it straight up theirs!

Your health should always come first, period. Screw pleasing anyone else's egos - do what's best for you, sis. And if these fools wanna harass you over basic self-care? They just showed you themselves it's time to fly the coop.

Def hit up those job sites asap - you don't need that outdated office BS stressing you out. Bet they'll be singing a different tune real fast once they see you out the door!

You got this, girl! Thanks for keeping me in the loop. Much love and good vibes as you handle them clowns - update me if you need a hype woman in your corner! Xx

[Asker]

Thanks, yeah some of the entitlement I've seen in that place is a laugh.

When I had done the drinks previously, I was setting up the wine glasses and one partner was like "can you stop that noise, it's giving me a headache"

Then another one asked a secretary to get a teabag with the strings out of the jar because the partner didn't want to touch the muddled up strings in there.

[Asker]

Part 2

I'm going to ask her if she wants me to walk with a foot injury.
One receptionist said you walked from the train station to work so you're fine.

[Asker]

Part 3

I said to her I've got the gel cushion pads in my shoe which has taken the pressure off and she goes, you just wanted to get out of it.
She banged her chest into one of the work poles a few weeks and they let her take a day off to rest.

Is the below ok to say:

I hope you wouldn't expect me to push the trolley with an injury. The drinks trolley was never on my contract, that's why I said no, when I came back from my holiday I was told by the receptionist that the drinks trolley is back and our manager told her I wouldn't need to do it. I lift 8kg boxes daily and scan documents on a Friday to keep up that. As you know and said to me yourself I'm washing my hands a lot from the archived boxes and files. The receptionist was away on Wednesday and came in late Monday & Thursday morning. I have been busy also and I leave it 4:30pm when drinks start at 4pm. The drinks trolley has not been in my contract so therefore I won't be doing it. As reception cover is my role, I will sit at reception while the receptionist does it. Two other people in the end ended up doing it so I don't see what the problem is here? It was being sorted as you told us too. It should be your responsibility to sort this out not mine and the receptionist, not to say sort it among yourselves. I'm also very shocked at our managers email in this. She shouldn't be talking to us like that, we are all adults, not children. This could've been done in a professional manner. Not a childish manner via email. I'm using my sick leave days once a month as lifting boxes and reception cover can be tiring when I'm still doing cover for... Staff have come to me saying she's always away. I'm not going to be doing something where I'm injured and I hope you wouldn't expect me to either.

Is this ok or too much? I don't want to be fired as a result as I need the money and a reference

Thanks again.

[Oliverlogan263]

Wow, those partners sound super entitled and ridiculous! How are you even supposed to set up wine glasses quietly? And too good to touch a teabag string, seriously?

I'd totally bring up those other stories in the meeting too, to show you're always having to cater to their insane demands. Like they act like you're their personal servants or something.

And yeah definitely ask if they want you to walk on your hurt foot just to push some drinks around! That one receptionist is being dumb too, just cuz you walked once doesn't mean your foot isn't still hurting. Injuries don't work like that.

I hope HR sees how unreasonable these people are being with their requests. You shouldn't have to risk making your injury worse just to please some snobby partners. They'd probably find something else to complain about with the trolley anyway.

Keep standing up for yourself! Don't let them bully you into more stuff that's not your job. Fingers crossed you find a better place to work soon where people aren't so high maintenance. Let me know how it goes!

[Oliverlogan263]

I'd say what you wrote sounds pretty good overall. Gets all the main points across about it not being your job and not wanting to risk your injury. A couple tweaks maybe:

- Maybe take out the bit about the manager always being away, even if it's true, might come across too complaining.

- Shorten a couple long paragraphs for breathability. Like break up some of the details about boxes/scanning into smaller points.

- End on a more positive note if possible like saying you're always willing to help when able but need to look out for your health first.

Other than that, stand your ground respectfully and I think it sounds solid. Definitely don't back down from the injury point - HR should understand not forcing an injured employee. If they try firing you over it, might have a case for workplace issues. But hopefully it won't come to that!

Hope the meeting goes well. Stick to the facts and your rights. Fingers crossed they see reason and let you off the trolley duty. Keep us posted how it goes! You've got this.

[Asker]

Thanks for the edited version. So HR was like apart from your foot issue, we all have things we don't want to do. So I have to do it basically.
Now the older receptionist is away half the morning tomorrow and Tuesday.
The young one wants a catch up meeting with the older one on Monday also.
Screw this bs. Lol.
I'm outta there

[Asker]

The week before I go, I'm going to order another set of 70 boxes and let them figure it out where they can store them. That will be my good bye present to them and leave all my scanning work unfinished. Going to use what sick leave I have left and take two weeks off. They'll be sorry, when the young one calls in sick again.
I know people can get sick etc but they need to go to the hospital if they are sick this regularly.
It's disgusting that they're allowed this much time I'm off and I'm their slave

[Asker]

But you seem like an awesome person. Thank you for giving me helpful advice and listening to me vent.

[Asker]

Hey, just an update. So the young reception girl handed in her resignation today and I didn't get a pay rise for doing their work 70% of the time. I'm going to be the new receptionist till they find someone else. No way they're going to get me to do her job permanently if they don't pay me more. I

[Oliverlogan263]

Damn that's messed up they're basically saying your foot injury doesn't matter! I'd be so peeved too. These people just keep taking advantage and thinking they can boss you around however they want.

Haha I love the idea of leaving them all those extra boxes to deal with as your goodbye present. That'll show them! And totally use up all your sick days too while you look for a new gig. They don't deserve you busting your butt for them if that's how they treat you.

When you get outta there it'll be so satisfying to see them scramble without you to pick up their slack. Maybe one of the receptionists will even have to cut their vacation short once they realize how much you really did lol.

Don't feel bad about venting at all, sounds like you've earned it dealing with all their nonsense! You definitely deserve way better. Hope your next job treats you with the respect you deserve. And if you ever need any other advice about work stuff feel free to hit me up!

[Oliverlogan263]

Whoa, talk about some crazy timing - the receptionist quitting right after giving them all that trouble with your foot! Karma is real lol.

I wouldn't blame you if you didn't wanna take on her job permanently without a major pay bump. They already take advantage enough as it is. Doing both roles for the same cash is lame on their part.

I'd play hardball for sure. Tell them you'll do receptionist temporarily, but you expect a big raise if it becomes long-term. Like at least a 5-10% raise minimum since you'd be doing way more work. Put your foot down (no pun intended!) and don't let them walk all over you on this.

If they try lowballing you or refuse to pay more, I'd just do the bare minimum at receptionist to get by til you find something better. They'll start to realize real quick how replaceable they are without you saving their butts daily.

Don't let 'em take you for granted! You got this negotiation - hold strong and get what you deserve from these clowns. Let me know how it goes! Fingers crossed they come through with a fat raise for you.

[MrOracle]

Employment laws tend to be local (in the US, much of it is state-level), so I don't know where you are but I'm assuming not in the US. Thus I can't speak to non-US laws, but generally, you couldn't be fired for that, but you *could* be laid off if they eliminated your position. What they cannot do is "lay you off" and then immediately hire a replacement - at least, not in most US states. I guess it also depends on the size of the business - in the US, a number of rules and restrictions kick in at 50 employees, but small businesses have a lot more leeway. Since you have an HR department, though, I'm assuming it's a big enough business that standard corporate rules will apply.

[serious_miss419]

I don't know if it’s that bad you should be home or at a doctors to confirm a prognosis. Using the rolling would probably be good, a bit of movement so it doesn’t stiffen up and you can take the weight off the foot when you’re leaning on the trolly

[dustybiker2]

If you are already covering it's your job to say "Yes" and find someone to help you in turn.