Acting as Receptionist Is Question of Fairness

Q: I work in an escrow office that I share with three other people. My workstation is closest to the office door. As a result, and the fact that I am a woman, it seems to make people think that I should act as a receptionist for the others.

I am very pleasant by nature, but this really makes me mad. My position in the organization is no different from my office mates’.

I have explained this to my co-workers, and suggested that we rotate desks, but they do not want to move (of course they see the disadvantage). I can’t afford to be rude to clients, even though they’re not all mine. What should I do?

--J.J., Escondido

A: You appear to have three choices, which I’ll put in order of preference.

First, you can insist that your co-workers either rotate desks or take turns “playing receptionist” with clients. Second, the office could hire a receptionist, if the volume of business would make that position cost-efficient. Third, you could put up a partition separating your workstation from the client reception area.

Whatever course you decide, you need to put your foot down and argue for equitable treatment from your co-workers.

--Ron Riggio, director

Kravis Leadership Institute

Claremont McKenna College

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