I think it also depends on the company culture. At my old job, everyone would pitch in to get things done and they were "happy to help." Now I'm with people who do only their assigned roles and it is the expectation that you do only your assigned role. Anyone who steps over is either questioned on it and/or the person who normally would have done it gets pissy.

OP how old are you?

Are you asking women to plan parties or do other historically female accomplished task?

I'm a female attorney and myself and other female attorneys are routinely asked to plan office gatherings and parties. I had to request that I be treated like my other co-workers and that I only be assigned tasks that will help my career.

It all depends on what you get in return!

Simply psychology: people want to be appreciated and rewarded for going the extra mile. It won't be the same reward for everybody, and the reward might have to change for an individual during the course of their time in that workplace.

Being a good manager that coaxes the best out of people and makes them feel good about it is HARD.

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the very few females in my company. Not surprisingly, even though I'm not an admin, the boys assume that I can do any admin stuff for them. So I have to push back a lot on the constant requests for me to do their administrative work and direct them to the correct person.

I tried the "just pitch in" and was treated with increasing disrespect because they also assume administrative = stupid and "lesser than". So, no, I'm not going to just pitch in. I'm not going to "push a broom all day" if asked. I have a difficult job that requires these men to respect me and take me seriously and, unfortunately, they've shown that they won't if I'm pitching in on those "lady tasks" they try to assign me.

I get asked all sorts of questions that have nothing to do with my job. Typically I will direct them to the right person and if I know that answer I will help them.
It is all about setting boundaries while being helpful. If there is no one to do it then, we all pitch it. If there is someone to do it I am going to direct you to the right person.

I remember the days when men would walk past 5 other men's office to ask me the fax number, or where to get pens. I was not the admin. It used to drive me crazy.

I think it depends on where you are in your career.

I advised my 23YO entry level job DD to look for and do things not in her job description. You learn a new skill that you can put on your CV and you show people your work ethic. At that stage in a career, it is absolutely essential that you be willing to step outside your box.

Given where I am now in my career, it depends. I generally do whatever needs to be done. However, there are situations where doing that does a disservice you and your employer. I am a fed and the agency I work for is known for having good technicians but poor managers. So instead of actively managing the folks who SHOULD be doing that work and who they pay to do it, the managers will just assign it to people they know will get it done. I am a manger myself and I frequently get asked to supervise projects in another section - one that is on the fringe of my expertise. It would benefit the agency more if those folks would just manage the slackers better. I know it is a pain to PIPs and the like but you cannot burn out the people you can rely on by asking them to take on more and more work simply because it is the path of least resistance. So...if an employee is being assigned the duties because of bad management and poor planning, I fully understand the reluctance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an attorney. When I was just starting out, an older, very established and top-billing partner once told me: "The best lawyers I know are those with the shortest list of tasks that they consider 'beneath them.'"

I've tried to keep that in mind as I've advanced in my career. Of course, for efficiency's sake, it's best to have a clear division of labor. But, in crunch time, everybody just has to grab an oar and start rowing.

OK but are you being asked to make copies for someone who easily could have done it or filing papers? I love to help, but it seems like some people don't do their fair share of "female" work.

My point is, it all depends on context. There is a very short (or nonexistent) list of tasks that I won't do no matter what. That doesn't mean I just do anything anybody asks at any time.

Anonymous wrote:I am an attorney. When I was just starting out, an older, very established and top-billing partner once told me: "The best lawyers I know are those with the shortest list of tasks that they consider 'beneath them.'"

I've tried to keep that in mind as I've advanced in my career. Of course, for efficiency's sake, it's best to have a clear division of labor. But, in crunch time, everybody just has to grab an oar and start rowing.

OK but are you being asked to make copies for someone who easily could have done it or filing papers? I love to help, but it seems like some people don't do their fair share of "female" work.

I am an attorney. When I was just starting out, an older, very established and top-billing partner once told me: "The best lawyers I know are those with the shortest list of tasks that they consider 'beneath them.'"

I've tried to keep that in mind as I've advanced in my career. Of course, for efficiency's sake, it's best to have a clear division of labor. But, in crunch time, everybody just has to grab an oar and start rowing.

Every job description I've ever seen includes 'plus other duties as assigned' or some equivalent. I'm an attorney, but I agree with the person who said the job is to push a broom if that is what is asked. So, yeah, I'll push your broom if that's what we need that day. I've certainly had to do things for which I felt overqualified. However, if it turns out that your job sucks, I'll be on my way sooner rather than later, thankyouverymuch.

Anonymous wrote:Nope I want more pay if I am expected to do more

Call me cynical but I know how the game is played....

Couldn't agree more, pp. The same people who take on extra work "for the good of the [for-profit] corporate enterprise" are the same people who are afraid to negotiate a higher salary.

Nope I want more pay if I am expected to do more

Call me cynical but I know how the game is played....

Well, I'm one of the very few females in my company. Not surprisingly, even though I'm not an admin, the boys assume that I can do any admin stuff for them. So I have to push back a lot on the constant requests for me to do their administrative work and direct them to the correct person.

I tried the "just pitch in" and was treated with increasing disrespect because they also assume administrative = stupid and "lesser than". So, no, I'm not going to just pitch in. I'm not going to "push a broom all day" if asked. I have a difficult job that requires these men to respect me and take me seriously and, unfortunately, they've shown that they won't if I'm pitching in on those "lady tasks" they try to assign me.

Anonymous wrote:Once I asked a job applicant, "Describe a time you were asked to do something that was not your job". Her reply: "No such thing. If you want me to push a broom all day, then that's my job". This was for a mid-level office job.

We hired her and she was awesome. That attitude is invaluable in an employee and it's a quality the true stand outs always have. Whatever it takes.

I agree. Nothing screams entitled loser like someone who says "that's not part of my job."

Anonymous wrote:Once I asked a job applicant, "Describe a time you were asked to do something that was not your job". Her reply: "No such thing. If you want me to push a broom all day, then that's my job". This was for a mid-level office job.

We hired her and she was awesome. That attitude is invaluable in an employee and it's a quality the true stand outs always have. Whatever it takes.

She got the job because we knew we would be able to take advantage of her.

FTFY