Nothing drives me crazier than seeing women take on emotional labour and tasks at the office, and getting confused why no one seems to credit them or appreciate them for it.
Let’s be clear about why.
COMPANIES DON’T CARE ABOUT THIS.
Organizing any of the following:
- Company lunches/dinners
- Employee goodbyes
- Employee orientation – if it isn’t officially your job
- Charity Drives/Runs/Events
- Team/Potluck Breakfasts
- Collections for … whatever
- Washing the dishes/cups or loading the dishwasher
- Baking/cooking for the team or for team-events
- Taking notes at meetings
…are all thankless female-driven & female-laden office busy work that does NOTHING for your career.
It doesn’t make you more money, it doesn’t count towards your bonus, and you can stop all of that because NO ONE CARES.
NONE OF THIS COUNTS.
A great way to head them off if they ask you to do any of this is to say:
Sure, and if I spend time doing this, what other work task should I put on hold?
You need to be clear that if you spend time baking cupcakes for a company breakfast tomorrow, or WHATEVER…. you won’t be able to deliver Project X.
If you want to do this on your own time, and you LOVE doing it, by all means, go ahead. I love it when people bring in stuff they baked because I’m a pig, and I enjoy eating. But don’t think that any of what you are doing, is going to count towards your salary review or give you a big bonus.
Value your time because no one else will.
Pass off the busywork to other eager folks. Don’t take that load on yourself. It’s your time and in many cases, your money if you’re the one baking cupcakes and no one is compensating you for the flour, sugar, etc.
You’ll just end up organizing and doing that job AND your own.
Who wants to take on more work for no real recognition or pay?
Not I, said the pig.
You look like a doormat if you are the one who they go to for all of this.
Also, you know what? You also look like you’re not busy or important because you have ALL OF THIS FREE TIME to do all of this AND your job.
No one is asking the manager or the VP to track who has donated to the charity, are they? Because they are important. They are busy. Their time is worth money.
Aren’t you?
If the manager wants it truly done, they’ll do it themselves or find someone else to do it.
If you want to contribute, do things like buy chocolate, candy or go to the bakery and bring it to the office and be done with it. Pay. Just pay.
Don’t ORGANIZE anything and don’t ever VOLUNTEER for these things. K
So keep your hand down, mouth zipped and wait.
