Multi-tasking at work in office/warehouse

poppet88_2

I work for a very small family run business, with a total of 7 staff. The company run a relatively large online store. I have worked for them for 18 months. Business is steadily growing and they are not going to recruit anymore staff in the near future, putting pressure on the current workers.

I am employed as a customer service advisor/admin assistant. I should work in the office permanantly which I share with the two company directors, brothers.

As business has increased, they have asked me to help out in the warehouse, testing products, unpack and check deliveries and pack online orders. I am flexible and do not mind working in the warehouse, it's a change and gets me out the office.

My problem is, my boss has requested that I take the cordless telephone out in to the warehouse with me, and when it rings, come back in to the office with the phone and take the call. Please bear in mind this is a busy online company and the phone can ring anywhere from every 2 minutes to every 10 minutes, it varys. Please also bear in mind the warehouse is a good 20 metre walk and through a door back in to the office.

I feel this is a totally unreasonable request of them. I feel I can't fully concentrate on picking/packing orders in the warehouse as I am constantly listening out for the phone. Not to mention another problem, there is an extremely loud compresser running constantly in the warehouse, all the other staff wear ear protectors, I am unable to wear these because I will not hear the phone.

I have discussed this matter with my boss who informed me 'business needs'. He said he can not have me sitting in the office doing nothing between phone calls, and the work keeps piling up in the warehouse and needs to be done.

I would say on average the phone rings about 12 times an hour, at busy times this could be 20. I feel like I don't know weather i'm coming or going some days.

I really don't know where I stand on this matter, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

getmore4less

Scaling up is always a probem for a growing company

Think about the next phase, they need to expand where do you want to be?

What will the new jobs be and how do you make sure you get the better paid ones?


If it is an on-line business can yo do something similar and make more money than working for them.

diable

If the business takes of then you could be in a good position and anyway give it a go and then ask for a pay rise.

clarkey3262

If the compressor produces 85dB upwards then they have to provide hearing protection IF the noise can not be controlled some other way. if it is above 87dB with ear protection then it is against H&S laws. Business needs take a back seat against the law and worker rights and health & safety

Sambucus_Nigra

poppet88 wrote: »

Not to mention another problem, there is an extremely loud compresser running constantly in the warehouse, all the other staff wear ear protectors, I am unable to wear these because I will not hear the phone.

What did they say when you discussed this bit of the problem with them?

Have you logged all the calls and the time spent ON these calls for a significant period - say a fortnight?

When you work for a small company - you do have to pitch in, however the issue with the ear protection is serious [I used to work in a company that had a compressor room, and one day one of the chaps was in there and it went 'bang' and he lost his hearing forever that day - it isn't something that heals so you HAVE to protect against damage].

Although I'd suggest that the amount of calls that you lose whilst walking from warehouse to office to deal with them might put them off this idea, as you can't answer them in the warehouse due to the compressor, and it takes on average x seconds to put your box down safely, put the tools/equipment that you are working with down safely, walk to the door and across the yard [you can't very well answer the phone whilst outside as the outside noise will look unprofessional], and back to the office - take a breather so that the customers don't think you are heavy breathing - and THEN answer it.....by then most people might have rung off....

poppet88_2

Thanks for all your replies.

I have mentioned the noise of the compresser and ear protector issue on numerous occasions. He said I can wear the ear protectors, I will just need to keep a constant eye on the tiny phone screen to see when it lights up. Which is totally ridiculous when I am trying to count/unpack hundreds of tiny items.

The reason the phone rings so many times is the sheer number of unhappy customers they have. I have also mentioned the fact that 1/3 of the products they send out come back faulty, strangly my boss doesn't seem to care!!

They actually permanantly engage the phone line during my hour long lunch break, as they simply can't be bothered to answer the phone. Then expect me to carry on working in the warehouse on my return, and of course the phone is twice as busy with more unhappy customers who have been trying to get through for the past hour!

I'm at my witts end and desperately trying to find a new job (not easy in the current climate) but in the meantime I was wondering if they are putting too much on me and if have a right to say anything.

Thanks again

liney

Have the phone diverted to a cheap mobile, turn it onto vibrate and put it in your back pocket. You can wear the ear protection and you do not have to watch the phone.

Sambucus_Nigra

poppet88 wrote: »

I'm at my witts end and desperately trying to find a new job (not easy in the current climate) but in the meantime I was wondering if they are putting too much on me and if have a right to say anything.

No, they aren't putting too much onto you - but I'd seriously consider their future as they sound like they are close to being considered scammers with that level of customer care!

It's their look out if they start to lose business as a result of their practices.

How exactly are you to look at the phone screen and unpack small items at the same time?

Anyway - they sound like knobs so keep looking for a different job!

dickydonkin

clarkey3262 wrote: »

If the compressor produces 85dB upwards then they have to provide hearing protection IF the noise can not be controlled some other way. if it is above 87dB with ear protection then it is against H&S laws. Business needs take a back seat against the law and worker rights and health & safety

The OP has stated that the employer does indeed provide ear protection for their staff.

The first action value where employers have to satisfy regulations is actually 80 decibels (A weighted) where the employer has to assess the risk of harm to their workers.

You are correct in stating that at 85 decibels, the employer does indeed have to provide suitable hearing protection with attenuation values relevant to the noise exposure and those working areas should be designated a mandatory ear protection zone.

The obvious and relatively easiest and cheapest method to reduce the noise of the compressor is by actually enclosing it. Due to the fact that noise is measured on a logarithmic scale, a small reduction of just 3 decibels actually halves the noise intensity.

If fork trucks are evident in your warehouse, I would be uncomfortable with warehouse staff having to wear ear protection as that introduces more risks than the one that is being addressed.

By enclosing the compressor (or better still - moving it), that will reduce the risk of noise induced hearing loss and by not having to wear ear protection, staff will be able to hear fork trucks or other items of mechanical handling - and for the OP - he will be able to hear the phone! Everyones a winner!

Always remember that personal protective equipment is the last measure of controlling any hazard wheras eliminating or reducing the risk of a hazard is always the priority. Far too many employers just provide PPE without even attempting to control the risks by other means.

Control by enclosing the compressor seems the obvious option here.

Have the phone diverted to a cheap mobile, turn it onto vibrate and put it in your back pocket. You can wear the ear protection and you do not have to watch the phone.

Problem in that situation would be that the OP will have to remove the ear protection to answer the phone.

DCFC79

Id do what is asked of you and if the work in the office piles up when your in the warehouse then so be it, you can only do so much at one time, but keep an eye out for other jobs, the mobile idea is a good one

Sambucus_Nigra

dpassmore wrote: »

Problem in that situation would be that the OP will have to remove the ear protection to answer the phone.

Which brings me back to the point of when exactly she would be expected to physically answer it....but it seems that they don't give a chuff how they come across to customers.