Colleague has thrown everything away that was on my desk

escalate it it to HR?

more likely o/p would get a warning to keep her desk clear of personal “sentimental” crap so others can use it. Her kids lives are not relevant to her work- GCSE timetables? Appointments? That’s what a diary is for. No need to litter a work environment with bit of paper.

I’d have stuffed it all in an envelope and put in the drawer. Having said that though I don’t think personal notes are something that should be scattered about your work desk anyway. We have calendars and reminders on phones for all of that.

If he didn't like them on the desk he should have put them in a folder. It's not like he's a boss who could possibly justifiably chuck a load of irrelevant (to work) papers that were lying around.

All places I have worked have had a clear desk policy - nothing to be left out when you go home.

As I sometimes am the DPO, I used to go around and remove anything in the open and put it in a drawer. (I'd also remove the invariably forgotten printouts from the printer).

When I worked in education there could be learners details, addresses etc. It made sense.

Did he go through and read everything? How does he know you didn’t have some important notes regarding a work project amongst them? Really bad behaviour and I think I would be reporting him. Absolutely none of his business what you have on your own desk.

Why would you have any of that stuff on your desk?

He shouldn’t have touched your stuff, no matter what it was. He’s wrong no matter what. But, it’s a work desk and you’ve got it littered with mementos of your son’s GCSEs and other handwritten notes of no consequence and nothing to do with work? Desks should be clear.

If you have to keep 'personal sentimental stuff' at work, and I really don't understand why, at least put it in a drawer. It's always possible that someone else might need to use an empty desk.

That's awful behaviour. Especially without an apology

I would report it - make a written complaint to him and cc either HR or Line Manager

Your desk. Your shit. Your personal notes. Not his to throw out. He could have just left it in a pile, or popped it into a paper folder for you.

And he definitely should have apologised as soon as you raised it with him.

You should have a clear desk but he had absolutely no need to throw it away, he could simply have put the papers in a drawer or box. He was more out of line I'd say.

He shouldn't have thrown it away but none of that stuff should have been there anyway tbh 🤷‍♀️

and my eldest son's GCSE timetable.

from last June?! I think it was fair to think that that wasn’t needed any more…

To be honest I think YABU as none of it is even work related. It sounds like you weren’t even actively using any of that either, you just liked having it in sight/on show. You don’t need to decorate your desk with a GCSE timetable.

In fact I would be surprised if you even need notes for a lot of that - surely you can remember what your own holiday plans are?

That's really unpleasant behaviour. If they were in his way he could have just put them in a plastic wallet or folder and tucked them in a drawer for your return. I would never dream of throwing a colleague's personal stuff away - what a twat.

A clear desk policy is quite normal. And you don't need any of that stuff to hand while you're working - GCSE exams aren't until May! Keep a notebook or details on your phone.

Totally unreasonable of him, he could have put it in a pile or box but really if its your desk he shouldn't be touching it.

Where I work cleaners would be disciplined for removing paperwork and other fee earning colleagues should all know better. If he genuinely thinks he was ok to do this his manager needs to have a word with him.

My impression is that he doesn’t like you and believes that you are too family orientated to be in the job. He wanted to inflict hurt and inconvenience. Would have been easier to chuck the papers in a drawer and save the row, but he sees you as weak, and that you’ll be upset and will let him do what he wants in future.

In an ideal world the desk is clear - and he isn’t a prick. I’d watch your back.

It was mostly handwritten notes about kids' appointments, my holiday plans, lists of things to remember about school, school calendars, and my eldest son's GCSE timetable. It was all personal sentimental stuff that I liked to have on my desk to see and remind me

I think it’s unprofessional to have this sort of stuff all over your work desk, especially if others have to use it.

it’s work, you’re not there to worry about your sons timetable or kids appointments. It makes you look as if you’re more invested in your kids life than your work.

a photo is enough if you want something sentimental. Not the minutiae of your kids lives.

get a diary, clear your desk of your personal rubbish.

Cross post!

I suppose it depends on a few things. I work in an environment where lots of things are confidential so we have a clear desk policy and any paperwork left out by mistake is locked away in a drawer each night in case it contains anything confidential and we are audited overnight.

If he sometimes uses your desk, do you have more of a hot desking arrangement? If so, you shouldn’t really have personal stuff lying about on it while you’re not there.

On the other hand, if it is your designated desk and none of the above applies then he is probably just annoyed by the clutter and trying to make a pass agg point.

Is it your desk or a shared desk? If it's shared, then you should keep it tidy, and he should also be respectful enough to put his things aside in an envelope or something and return them to you. If it's not shared then he's a complete CF! I'd be tempted to bin his sandwich 🥪

Why does he sometimes work at your desk and where does he work when you are both in? If it's your desk he is totally out of order chucking your stuff away. If it is a hot desk/shared desk then you should leave it clear and perhaps he has got fed up of finding your stuff all over it and so chucked it away to make sure you leave it clear next time.

Is it a hot desk situation or actually only your desk? Why do you need to have all that around you anyway? It's unprofessional

Do you have a clear desk policy?

If so, he was probably reasonable.

I'd never have done that to a colleague. Even if I was assigned to someone else's desk and didn't want their clutter, I'd neatly pile it up and put it in the desk drawer.
Was he pissed off at picking up the slack during your absence?