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What Is Office Housework and Why Should You Stop Volunteering for It?
De-prioritize non-promotable tasks
I learned about the term office housework a few years into my career, and it was an “aha” moment for me. Harvard Business Review defines it well:
“Office housework happens outside of the spotlight. Some is administrative work that keeps things moving forward, like taking notes or finding a time everyone can meet. Some is emotional labor (‘He’s upset — fix it.’). Some is work that’s important but undervalued, like initiating new processes or keeping track of contracts. This kind of assignment has to get done by someone, but it isn’t going to make that person’s career.”
Some examples of office housework:
- Organizing company and team events.
- Taking notes during a brainstorming session.
- Finding a time everyone can meet.
- And many similar admin tasks that are not part of your core responsibilities.
Who Is Doing the Office Housework?
According to this study by Harvard Business Review, women are more likely to receive office housework requests because they are most likely to say yes.
“Men accepted requests 51% of the…
