Do you have to clean out the office coffee pot?

Question

I am the accountant/office manager for a very small office (three other employees in the main office, four employees in the field). I also answer the company phone if someone chooses "operator" from the voice mail menu. Every day my boss makes coffee, and he always leaves his cup partway full of cold coffee next to the coffee pot with the leftover coffee in it. He has asked me to always close his window shades at the end of the day (after he's gone) andhe's strongly suggested that it's my duty to clean the coffee pot (which is mine by the way, but that's another story). I do all that he expects, but I feel sort of humiliated?

I am a 43 year old male. Can anyone relate?

I make my own pot of coffee each morning, which I put in a thermos and begin to enjoy on the way to work (my commute is 45 minutes.) So I don't drink the coffee that is made at work.

I know someone has to do it. I was just hoping that someone who also has the duty would tell me how they feel about it.

Answer 1

Nope. I told my boss all about my coffee pot "philosophy" (see below) when he said it was my responsibility since I'm the admin. He didn't fire me and never made the suggestion again. As it is there is only one person who makes and drinks the coffee.

Here's my coffee pot "philosophy": You make it, you clean it. You drink it, you clean it and your cup too. That means your boss should clean the pot and his own cup. If there are other coffee drinkers, rotate the cleaning responsibility.

IMO, I think the only people who should be responsible for cleaning the pot are those who drink and/or make the coffee. In your case though, it's a bit of a catch-22 since the coffee pot belongs to you which is probably why your boss thinks you should be cleaning it.

Answer 2

yes they should turn it off if its not already. Coffee is technically considered burnt after only 45 mins. I know its ridiculious to think that new coffee should be made every 45 min. But maybe you could get a timer set it for 2 hours leave it by the pot. If when it goes off no one wants to drink it they can remake a pot, turn it off and microwave it to reheat. Or get a pot that turns its self off after so much time. If there are that many people working there you could pass the hat to collect for it. The girl who closes should pitch in too then she wouldn't have to remeber to turn it off.

Answer 3

Fine with me had the best answer but add the bosses name to the list and make he sure sees it. Explain that it will easier to get the staff to clean the coffee is he sets the example.

Answer 4

How valuable are you? How replaceable are you? If you can get another job easily then say to him, "I'm sorry, I don't feel that maid service is part of my job description." Or you can just ignore his "strong suggestions." Or you could take away the coffee pot entirely and just bring a cup from home. If he asks, say that you needed it at home.

Answer 5

since your the office manager, why dont you prepare a spreadsheet, where everybody in the office is on a rotating schedule for cleaning what ever it is you outline. Bytheway, put your self first, and get it over with.

Answer 6

don't u have any temp that wud do it... or an office janitor??? if none.. and since he's ur boss... then do it... wats so humiliating than cleaning coffee cups??? do u prefer cleaning the toilets??? and that's humiliating!!!

Answer 7

Is it really that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things? Someone has to do it.

Answer 8

Does he smack you on the *** on the way out? I guess if you quit drinking coffee it would be up to him to clean it.