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AITA for refusing to keep being the designated greeter at my job after my manager kept volunteering me?

· 3 min read

It’s a small office with a big problem. Every day, for the first 30 minutes, someone has to stand at the front desk and greet the world (and the occasional nosy client). The rule? “Everyone rotates—one week each.”

My manager, however, decided that my friendly face should be the office’s “welcome mat.” He keeps skipping the rotation schedule and assigning me to the desk three or four times a week. When I asked why, he replied, “You have a friendly face—make visitors feel comfortable.” Sounds like a glad compliment, right? Except it means I’m always behind on my actual work while the rest of the team gets a head start.

Last week, I politely told him I’d only do the front‑desk shift if the schedule was fair. He looked annoyed and said, “You’re making a big deal out of something small.” Now, my coworkers (who apparently never have to take extra shifts) are calling me dramatic, even though they haven’t been asked to cover the extra work themselves.

I’m not saying I hate being helpful, but I’m not a walking “human receptionist” because I look approachable. Am I the asshole for refusing to keep taking on the extra greeting shifts?

The Comments (Rewritten for Laughter)​

  • “Let me guess—those co‑workers are men. No matter what, NTA.”
    Because apparently the office’s “friendly face” is a one‑way ticket to gendered labor.

  • “Of course your coworkers don’t like it. They will have to cover their fair share.”
    A gentle reminder that fairness is a myth invented by those who don’t have to do it.

  • “NTA. I’m sure your coworkers would feel differently if they were the ones being asked to take on all the extra work.”
    A classic ‘if-you‑were‑in‑my‑shoes‑you‑would‑be‑like‑this’ comment.

  • “NTA translation: you’re pretty and I just want you to be eye candy. Your career doesn’t matter.”
    Because the most sophisticated insult is to reduce a professional to a decorative accessory.

  • “That’s how it feels sometimes, so frustrating that my willingness to help is being mistaken for an excuse to offload extra work onto me, instead of treating it as a fair rotation like everyone else’s tasks. My career and workload should matter just as much as anyone else’s.”
    A heartfelt plea for equality that the office has apparently forgotten how to read.

TL;DR​

You’re being used as the office’s “human welcome mat” because you’re friendly. Your boss thinks that’s a good thing. Everyone else is happy to do their own work. Bottom line: Stop being the company’s unofficial receptionist—your time and career are worth more than a friendly smile. NTA.