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Colleague has thrown everything away that was on my desk

436 replies

WinkyTinky · 02/01/2025 11:27

Back to work after Christmas and a few weeks off sick, to find that one of my colleagues who sometimes works at my desk has thrown away all of my papers. 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 asked where it all was and he said that he has "got rid of all the crap." I'm really disappointed and a bit furious actually, but he thinks it's all perfectly fine. I know I'm a ridiculous softy about a lot of things, but this was MY stuff.

OP posts:
delphinedupont · 02/01/2025 11:31

It’s poor behaviour, it would have taken less effort to just put it in a pile and leave it on the desk for you. However if it was an official desk share then we have to box our things up at the end of every shift so that everyone using that desk gets it clear. Maybe he feels it’s his desk as much as yours.

Shakeyourbaublesandsmile · 02/01/2025 11:31

That’s awful and at best thoughtless

Any chance of retrieval?

rubyslippers · 02/01/2025 11:31

Regardless of whose desk, if you see handwritten papers etc then leave in a pile and you certainly don’t throw away

if it is your desk it’s even worse that he did that

redskydarknight · 02/01/2025 11:31

Is it actually your desk or a shared desk/hot desk?

If the former, I'd make a formal complaint - for all he knew those pieces of paper were vital work notes. If the latter, I don't think you should be leaving these around and he's probably been annoyed about them for a while.

YouveGotAFastCar · 02/01/2025 11:30

Is it your desk, or a hot desk?

To be honest, it sounds like a lot of handwritten paperwork, which probably needed to be in a drawer or something to protect it from cleaners/tea spillages/other people working at your desk.

I am sorry it's been thrown away, but if it's a desk used by other people, it needs to be tidy and not have anything important or sentimentally valuable left on it.

Butchyrestingface · 02/01/2025 11:30

Do you officially desk share?

I take it HE doesn't leave any non-work related stuff at the desk - if so, Guy Fawkes night might come round a leetle early this year. 🔥🧨

porridgecake · 02/01/2025 11:29

It is nasty behaviour but if it is a shared desk you really should leave it clear and keep your personal papers at home.

BarbaraHoward · 02/01/2025 11:29

Why is he using your desk? That was really shit of him but does he think it's not actually your desk to take over like that?

TheFlis · 02/01/2025 11:29

What do you mean by they sometimes work at your desk, is it actually your assigned desk? If so why does he work at it?

WhatIDoIsEnough · 02/01/2025 11:29

I'd be really cross too. It doesn't matter what it is, it wasn't anyone else's to bin

Drpeppered · 02/01/2025 11:28

Your desk or a desk you share?

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