Is being asked to coordinate staff events a red flag?

[Anonymous]

Every place I've worked, the task of organizing social events always fell to the women.

Always.

Some of it is unconscious bias but there are also plenty of men who beg off from doing such tasks because they say "oh I'm not good at that stuff...you are so much better at it."

Sounds like you should keep an eye out for another job based on what you are describing overall. But as to this sexist division of labor, it's common in many places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes

If an org wants an event planned, hire an event planner or hire someone on short term contract to do it

Op - you should be out interviewing and looking to leave asap

This!! Please trust me. Wasted a lot of time people pleasing in a place like this and it did me zero favors. Spend the energy developing an exit strategy, not helping them manage employee morale. That is THEIR job, unless you were hired to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every place I've worked, the task of organizing social events always fell to the women.

Always.

Some of it is unconscious bias but there are also plenty of men who beg off from doing such tasks because they say "oh I'm not good at that stuff...you are so much better at it."

Sounds like you should keep an eye out for another job based on what you are describing overall. But as to this sexist division of labor, it's common in many places.

100% and the work is quickly forgotten when it comes time to recognize your leadership skills and give you a promotion. In fact, it makes it easy NOT to promote you because they get the benefit of your leadership for free.

[Anonymous]

Depends on what your role is. If your job is operations or communications, then I see it as a natural fit. Mine is, and I would absolutely be asked to organize events like this (within a majority-female org).

If your job has nothing to do with events... then it does seem a little off-topic. But maybe they are thinking you are newer and working to fit in and this would help?

I would do it but also start to look at your role of doing it as managing it - not just doing it yourself. So, after doing the initial one or two, you manage the process by setting up a rotating schedule of who will plan the rest of them, and the others sign up.