Posted on 02/09/2011 6:53:00 PM PST by CH3CN
What is the modern opinion regarding coffee in the office. Is it no longer proper to pour a cup of java, add a little cream, and drop it off on the boss's desk when he comes in? I always thought it was courteous and a demonstation of respect to greet the boss with a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Guess I'm from the old school, but, I'd like to know what is done nowadays.
I too am a dinosaur - I say GO 4 it!
Are you the secretary?
Let the boss get his/her own!
Agree...totally obsequious!
Ugh...if the same sex..kinda too personal.
Where we are, it is more like an Olympic race to drink it before everyone else, and in my case, get to it and clean it before someone makes coffee on top of coffee that has been sitting over night.
Well, I guess I’m a secretary. I take care of a gang of graduate students and am the only “staff” person there. I make the coffee for everyone, have for 25 years. The new boss didn’t seem to mind the coffee the first year, but suddenly he tries to beat me to the coffee maker to get his own, or hides his cup and I have to ask for it. It’s obvious someone has told him it’s not a good thing to let me get him coffee in the morning.
When I was the boss (I am retired), I always appreciated it.
It’s ok because it is a nice thing to do but first ask the boss if he’d have an issue with you doing that. The world needs more kind-hearted servants.
/johnny
What is so strange these days is that everyone needs a coffee or a soda when they work.
Today at the post office all the clerks had large (very large) cups of soda. The other day at a restaurant the hostess has a large coke which she spilled all over her list of reservations, and at the bank every single teller had a cup of coffee or soda. Reading through the restaurant health inspection reports the #1 infraction was a personal container of liquid on a counter near food preparation.
Why is everybody so thirsty all of a sudden?
Then stop doing it! What's the problem?
Yea, I like mine neat, too. But the boss likes cream, and some of the other guys do too so I keep it in the office. Sugar and the pink stuff, too. (Yuck!)
I would suspect that someone had peed in it and would dump it.
Thats our world today.
Everyone wants to get their coffee and soda before Michelle outlaws caffeine?
If he's this touchy, I wouldn't show up topless, either.
Courtesy is never out of date.
I’ve known my boss 18 years. He’s a guy, too. Getting him a coffee is like getting him a beer.
The boss is a kindly, older Chinese gentleman. He was quite honored at first. I finally asked him if someone had told him the coffee thing was taboo and his shook his head yes. He thinks he offended me by letting me bring coffee. I tried to explain it’s only demeaning if he demands I bring coffee. I just don’t understand why it’s suddenly become a problem, so I thought I’d run it by you folks. Is it really taboo now?
HEY HONEY! FETCH ME A BEER!
Where you in the USN?
“let me get him coffee in the morning.”
Wives no longer appreciate this behavior
No, but a Navy guy told me once the navy cooks added salt water to their coffee.
What a dummy.
LoL!
Sounds like you make bad coffee. Maybe too strong or too weak?
Sometimes my husband or I bake fresh scones to take in, too. The students really like that. LOL.
Let it be. Give it up. Stop pushing it on him. He’s Chinese. Cultural differences. It is very rude to force something on someone when it is not wanted.
I’ve wondered this myself. Now our cars have cup holders. They didn’t used to because people didn’t drink in their cars, even on long trips. And those 64 oz drinks? Holy cow. I can nurse a can of Coke for an entire day. And have you noticed how EVERYONE has to have a bottle of water around, sucking on it like a wino on his last inch of Thunderbird?
It’s really weird. Why is everyone these days so thirsty all the time?
My boss got her own coffee. We’re still friends. She is an egalitarian who appreciates those who support her.
You got a point there. I guess I can get into the modern age. It’s amazing how strongly some folks feel about how their coffee gets to their desk.
I was right about one thing though, you all certainly are bringing me up to speed on office manners.
A lot of people are getting cappo machines or buying different types of coffees from Starbucks. Those are the “in” things right now.
>> She is an egalitarian
What does her religion have to do with it??!?
Ha Ha, that’s funny. Speaking of aliens, ever since the economy went to heck we’ve had move domestic students and very few internationals. We used to have 30-40 internationals, but now have 2. The domestic students are having a hard time finding jobs so they are going to grad school. I’ve enjoyed working with this department very much. I never would have thought I would enjoy being around engineering folks. They are a lot of fun.
“I?ve known my boss 18 years. He?s a guy, too. Getting him a coffee is like getting him a beer.”
I’m mixed on this. You have a habit and probably a good job. But I would never get another person coffee unless they were tied to a phone and I inititiated the offer. Other than that, they can kiss my ass and get their own coffee.
Getting coffee is total suck-up!
One of the best parts of my day, was to go through my area, with my empty cup in hand, say hello to everyone, and note who were not yet there; then once I poured my own cup, drop in on the folks who had special deadline assignments and ask how all was going, and whether they needed anything.
Got the day going to prepare for the short management meeting at about 10AM to discuss prime issues, while supporting those with special deadlines with a way to vent.
He's afraid of being accused of sexual discrimination.
Asking a secretary to get coffee is a hot button for feminists. Someone else in the building probably reported it to your boss' boss--"Did you know he's making his secretary bring him coffee?" Your boss got called in and read the sexual discrimination riot act.
A lot of women don't realize the mine-field men have had to negotiate. Do you open the door for a woman or not? Do you compliment her or not? Do you make an off color joke or not? Do you help someone--what, you think I can't do it because I'm a woman--or not?
Stop getting him coffee.
Whatever his reason is, you should respect it. In today’s current lawsuit crazy environment, who knows what anyone is going to sue for next?
He may be the nicest guy in the world, but what if some freaky liberal type claims that his accepting your coffee service is intimidating and thus creates a hostile working environment?
Don’t laugh! It could have been something just like that.
>>Your boss got called in and read the sexual discrimination riot act.
That sounds like a distinct possibility. Common sense is gone. We’ve built a system in which even courtesy has been destroyed.
Thanks all. You’ve helped me sort this out from angles I never imagined.
Did I used to work for you? Just kidding.
“he tries to beat me to the coffee maker to get his own, or hides his cup and I have to ask for it”
What does he have to do, hit you over the head with a 2 x 4?
STOP, repeat STOP giving him coffee. He made it very clear he doesn’t want you to do it.
The reasons can be many, one of which could be people gossiping about possible relationship between him and you (regardless whether you are female or male).
Your intentions may be pure, but you know where the road with good intentions leads.
The fact that you say you have to “ask for it”, after he hides his cup, shows you are overly aggressive, almost obsessive about it.
For everyone’s sake, including for the sake of your boss and your own, STOP giving him coffee.
This may sound a harsh assessment and advice, but this is how it looks to an unbiased outside observer.
There's your answer.
I agree with this post #40.
It’s not that the cooks add salt water to the coffee, but if the coffee is VERY strong and bitter, i.e. been sittin on the burner too long, a pinch of salt added to it will take much of the bitter away.
See response 38. It’s only been the past few days that I’ve noticed his new attitude after almost a year of no problem. That’s why I posted this, to figure out the best course to follow and understand what must have happened.
Thank you for you input.
(Or, un-salty for that matter.)
I get coffee for my husband in the morning, tea or whatever at meals, hot tea in the evening, etc. When he's at the office, he says that he gets it for himself and likes it that way.
I can think of a number of reasons a boss would want to get their own, including the fact that getting coffee gives him a chance to get up, stretch his legs, and see how everything and everyone is doing in the office.
The reason ultimately doesn't really matter, though. As a worker, it's your job to make his job easier/more comfortable/whatever. Whatever makes him happy should make you happy.
It doesn’t really matter what the reason is, your boss made it abundantly clear to you that he wants you to stop giving him coffee. At work it is usually a very good idea to abide by the wishes of one’s boss.
He also does not owe you an explanation. He felt comfortable with it before, but he does not want you to continue. You should not insist on forcing your attention on your boss.
Wake up and smell the coffee in more ways than one.
WOW! That’s exactly what I was thinking!
Now THAT sounds awesome and I think it contributes to a sense of team at work.
I will sometimes make my kids favorite; Cheese bread and bring that to work to serve to folks. It goes fast!
When I was the boss, I didn’t want my people serving me anything.
I had enough of serving from upper management, and it was all bullsh!t.
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