Colleague has thrown everything away that was on my desk

Sounds like they share desks. To me reads more like OP feels entitled to leaving her crap out because she’s worked there for 14 years. A sleeping bag in the office too… WTF.

How unreasonable and unnecessary! I too went off sick unexpectedly, ended up being off for almost 18 months, due to having to wait for surgery. Naturally when I went back to work, I wasn't expecting to get my desk back, and in all honesty was surprised that they'd even held my job open that long, but to my surprise, when I was given my new desk, in the drawer I found a carrier bag with all of my personal bits in. Someone had kindly bundled together my stuff when my post had had to be covered by other people, and kept it safe for me. Difference being - I worked with other women!! I'd give him what for OP, and next time he's off, would be sure to swipe anything personal off his desk straight into the bin!

That’s your opinion. I’m a senior manager, and the colleague’s actions are likely not a disciplinary matter. So I’m not sure what you mean. It’s very unlikely that keeping personal stuff on display at work, is written in their policies. Policies benefit the employer.

Every coffee cup and coat would be misplaced too 🤣

in places i've worked with a clear desk policy there have been broadly 2 approaches to things left on desks which boils down to: stuff it in a drawer at that desk, or put EVERYTHING in one big box which is emptied once a week.

Presumably OP has proved her worth as an employee through her actual work and doesn't need to display it via a bare and impersonal desk. Agree this would be an issue in some workplaces, but it doesn't sound like OP's is one of them.

I’ve never worked anywhere that had a ‘clear desk’ policy.

Well I have - but no one would have done that this colleague did. It was up to management to enforce the policy.

Look him in the eye and ask him why he has binned your personal items. Depending on his answer, why didn't he clear ALL the desks of "rubbish". Or "this is personal, it's like bullying"

and then leave it.
(and possibly clear his desk - i would but i am petty and vindictive and i never ever let anything go)

Id complain. Don't let nasty little shits like him get away with stuff like that.

It is a shitty thing to do. I would have bundled your paper stuff in a box n shoved it under the desk out of the way. However why you need all that laying about when you are working is beyond me. Work=work..home =home. Beggars belief why you need all that as a comfort blanket kind of extension from home.

That's rotten, passive aggressive and plain mean. I would confront them and ask them why they thought that was appropriate.

If they get rude, report it as a grievance

This! I'm surprised anyone thinks it's OK to throw away someone else's personal paperwork regardless of content. Or anything that belongs to someone else.

Because its a workplace, not somewhere to be jotting down your holiday plans and multiple personal occasions for everyone else to see. Your work desk is for work. But like I said it should have just been put in a drawer and not binned.

In that case, return the favour and clear his desk into the bin at every opportunity ("oh sorry, that was your lunch, was it? I was just getting rid of all the crap"). But I'm petty like that. And keep your stuff in a lockable drawer from now on.

Having further read some of the comments, I think you would be shocked if you worked in a start up! I have worked in a few and honestly there was stuff everywhere. I worked for a clothing firm and we had samples/ paperwork/ shoes scattered around. I have worked in other places where was IT equipment dumped in various places. The idea this is ‘unprofessional’ 🤣 . The only places I have ever worked with clear desk polices have been in corporates.

Many people who don't currently work in places where this operates will have experienced it before though, may be used to it, or prefer it.

While it might not be the explicit expectation of management, the fact it is quite normal affects how people will behave. So it's not irrelevant, as lots of people don't want to work surrounded by other people's junk that's unrelated to work.

My current workplace doesn't have the policy either, but I've worked places where it works well. When I'm out of my classroom and others are working from my desk, I certainly don't leave a load of random crap about my family all over it for them to wade through, or mistakenly gather up in their own belongings and take with them when they leave. If I left a planner, or notebook, or file of papers, they'd be clearly left alone (even if they contained personal details).

In that case, revenge it is 😁😁😁😁

Depends on the job really. My boss would go ballistic if there was ANY personal non work related stuff on my desk, he would want to know where exactly I found time to look at personal things and make lists while being paid in his time.
I have my personal stuff in a folder in my work bag and I always take it home.

I can see why you'd be annoyed. Unless there is a clear desk policy you really should be able to leave personal items/notes on your desk. However it's done now and if management are uninterested then with someone like this in workplace all you can do is be defensive and avoid issues.

For future get a folder/diary planner and stick random notes in there and take with or put in drawer before leaving site.

Good, then take him outside and knock fuck out of him!

Well either go down the official route of reporting him for his misogynistic and sexist behaviour, or draw a teeny tiny penis in the ladies loo and name and shame him.
And all have a good laugh at his expense.

You didn’t just unceremoniously bin it though, did you?

Again, none of this excuses the actions of her colleague, who should not have interfered.

If we're being pedantic it's probably more accurate to say it can be normal but as the OPs workplace doesn't have that policy it's a moot point