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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Other People Using My Desk

118 replies

MediatorMom · 17/07/2025 18:33

As I repeat this over and over in my mind, it sounds ridiculous... With that being said, AIBU to be upset, teetering on angry, that someone comes to the office and works at my desk? I am a leadership development educator and coach - so I'm not always in the office. Now, "they" come in and change all of my settings on my computer monitors and chair and never put anything back to my settings and they leave a small mess on my desk - my area does not have cameras. I've left a note on my keyboard saying "Welcome and Hello Guest - If you are here borrowing a desk, please leave everything the same as you found it. Please do not change settings on monitors or chairs. Thank you and have a wonderful day."
My note obviously gets ignored.
So, AIBU?

OP posts:
Rhaidimiddim · 17/07/2025 20:39

Can you check who last logged on, or get the IT dept to do so?

DappledThings · 17/07/2025 20:33

TheOccupier · 17/07/2025 20:13

Absolutely take the monitor power cables home. Do you have an office manager who might be able to help?

Even in ye olden dayes when anyone having their own desk was a thing in my office then anyone who expected it to be kept unused when they weren't even there and thought taking parts of office equipment home to maintain this or trying to rope me in as the manager to enforce it would have got short shrift.

It's the company's desk and computer and chair. Not OP's.

cgiwaly · 17/07/2025 20:24

Who is the person who is using the desk and why aren't they using one of the hot desks if they don't have their own desk?
If it's your desk with your name on they shouldn't be using the desk.
It would really annoy me too.

yeesh · 17/07/2025 20:13

Some mad answers on here lol. The person is clearly taking the piss. Can you a bitlocker key to the PC so it’s doesn’t work without the code

TheOccupier · 17/07/2025 20:13

Absolutely take the monitor power cables home. Do you have an office manager who might be able to help?

Yerroblemom1923 · 17/07/2025 20:08

Unless you work full time at the desk it is not actually "yours", is it?! It's just a table with a chair. Wfh is a perk. You can't have it both ways!

Original poster
MediatorMom · 17/07/2025 20:05

DappledThings · 17/07/2025 20:01

Maybe others don't agree with that policy, especially if you aren't always there. Not that they should leave a mess but they might think you're being unreasonable clinging to outdated notions of desk ownership.

I think you're on a hiding to nothing with trying to police it

Show quote history

I have to "have ownership" - that's what the company gave me - and I have confidential files (yes, they are locked up). I guess I'm just different, I could never imagine using anything of someone else's and not being respectful.

OP posts:
TeachesOfPeaches · 17/07/2025 20:05

Take the leads for the monitors

DappledThings · 17/07/2025 20:04

Pootles34 · 17/07/2025 20:03

Hot desk or not, the messy fecker shouldn't be leaving a filthy desk behind!

Even OP says it's a "small mess". Doesn't sound filthy

Pootles34 · 17/07/2025 20:03

Hot desk or not, the messy fecker shouldn't be leaving a filthy desk behind!

IMissSparkling · 17/07/2025 20:01

If you're not in the office all the time, it's not your desk. No matter what the wall says.

GonnaeNoDaeThatJustGonnaeNo · 17/07/2025 20:01

It’s not your desk.

DappledThings · 17/07/2025 20:01

MediatorMom · 17/07/2025 19:59

It's not a "hot desk", we have hot desks available for others to use.

Show quote history

Maybe others don't agree with that policy, especially if you aren't always there. Not that they should leave a mess but they might think you're being unreasonable clinging to outdated notions of desk ownership.

I think you're on a hiding to nothing with trying to police it

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 17/07/2025 20:00

@MediatorMom if you are full time, then could it be cleaners or night watch having their break? can you put a password on it so it cannot be used??

Original poster
MediatorMom · 17/07/2025 19:59

rubyslippers · 17/07/2025 18:34

If it’s not a hot desk then YANBU
its so annoying
if someone uses the space they should put everything back the way they found it

It's not a "hot desk", we have hot desks available for others to use.

OP posts:
Original poster
MediatorMom · 17/07/2025 19:55

DoYouReally · 17/07/2025 19:41

Your name might be on the wall but your bum isn't on the seat!

That is terribly true 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
MediatorMom · 17/07/2025 19:55

Crunchymum · 17/07/2025 19:45

Are you sure it's not your wall OP? And the desk is for whoever needs it?

No, it's my desk. We do have "hot desks" for others to use.

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByABare · 17/07/2025 19:47

Can’t you lock the screen with a password?

Crunchymum · 17/07/2025 19:45

Are you sure it's not your wall OP? And the desk is for whoever needs it?

pinkyredrose · 17/07/2025 19:43

Cancel the wall.

DoYouReally · 17/07/2025 19:41

Your name might be on the wall but your bum isn't on the seat!

AppleKatie · 17/07/2025 19:40

Is your name on the wall OP 🤣

seriously, someone else nearby must know who it is? Ask around and send a very polite (PA) email?

Original poster
MediatorMom · 17/07/2025 19:39

UghFletcher · 17/07/2025 18:36

Is it YOUR desk or is it a hot desk? My answer completely depends on this

It's my desk, my name is on the wall. 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
Isobel201 · 17/07/2025 19:37

MediatorMom · 17/07/2025 19:34

I have confidential files, yes they are locked up. We have "hot desks" for others to use.

Show quote history

Then I'd change your note to say 'desk is exempt from hot desking, please do not use it'.

Original poster
MediatorMom · 17/07/2025 19:37

DappledThings · 17/07/2025 18:38

Having your own desk is pretty unusual these days. Does everyone know it's yours? Is it actually yours?

I haven't had my own desk for 10 years. People don't really expect to much now I don't think.

I know it's unusual but yes, my name is on the wall.

OP posts: