Clear desk policy or “no Linda you don’t need 10 teddies on your desk you’re a 42 year old woman”

[Strafficy]

I’m at the end of 2 weeks annual leave and clearing out emails.

Member of the team has taken the opportunity of me not being there to start an email thread with my boss about my clear desk policy and how unhappy she is. Boss rather bemused and “can you talk to XXX when she returns”

I started 6 mths ago and have asked all staff in my division to have a clear desk for a number of reasons

1. piles of paperwork everywhere some of it years old and I want them out of the habit of printing everything (one member of staff was printing all their emails!)

2. We are supposed to hot desk and it isn’t fair on part timers when they come in to sit at someone’s desk when it’s piled high with family photos/teddies/half eaten bowls of cereal

3. Frankly some of them are bloody unorganised and needed a kick up the arse

4. confidential information left all over the desk for anyone to see

This staff member has done nothing but complain about it since day 1. I’ve had just about enough now

One company I once worked for introduced a clear desk policy after their office building in London suffered an explosion and all the windows were blown out. Every loose scrap of paper in the whole place ended up in the street.

I agree it's draconian and smacks of micromanagement. If people are hot desking then 11yes they should leave it clear at the end of the day but other than that leave people to manage their desks how they want.

Exactly. In my experience people who obsess about clear desks do it because it makes them feel superior and to disguise their own inadequacies. I remember having a twat manager who used to obsess about the surface of my desk, but the written work he produced was an utter mess. From the point of view of the company, the latter was infinitely more important, and he didn't last long.

For those working in a digital environment ie everything is online, there 's no need to have shed loads of stuff lying around and really, its not that difficult to keep a tidy, clear desk.

I work in an office where some people keep cupboard loads of condiments on their desk (and come into work and spend the first half hour eating their breakfast and taking hour and half lunch breaks by the time they chonmp their way through lunch watching iplayer on their phones).

Loathe those people who worked in a particular area and treat their desk space like their front rooms...photos, "world's best nanna" twee ornaments >>shudder

[quote PearlclutchersInc]For those working in a digital environment ie everything is online, there 's no need to have shed loads of stuff lying around and really, its not that difficult to keep a tidy, clear desk.

I work in an office where some people keep cupboard loads of condiments on their desk (and come into work and spend the first half hour eating their breakfast and taking hour and half lunch breaks by the time they chonmp their way through lunch watching iplayer on their phones).

Loathe those people who worked in a particular area and treat their desk space like their front rooms...photos, "world's best nanna" twee ornaments >>shudder

You can't scribble a remark or stick a post-it note on a .pdf

Just saying...

@dodobookends

You can't scribble a remark or stick a post-it note on a .pdf

Just saying...

Depends on what version of Adobe you have, but I get your point.

You spend most of your life at work. Work used to be fun but nowadays its like a totalitarian state.

God, when was work ever fun?

@Boatonthehorizon

You spend most of your life at work. Work used to be fun but nowadays its like a totalitarian state.

The more I hear about life in modern offices, the more grateful I am that I don’t have to endure them any more. Presumably the vase of daffodils that used to cheer my working day every spring would be completely off limits these days.

I've worked with various clear desk policies for confidential reasons, you need to ensure there are safe places for info to be stored - lockers or pedestals? I've also worked in hot desk environments, people are always bound to have a preferred space, are there letter trays or anything available so that people can put their stuff away but still kind of have a place they call home? Personal stuff at work is weird, I have a pic of my family in my diary, but would dream of putting stuffed teddies or that crap on my professional desk.
Do a sweep at the end of every week and put everything in a black bag, I'm sure after a couple of times people will get the hint - and they can't moan if you've given them fair warning in written form.

I'll also add that anyone disgusting enough to leave dirty bowls on their desks should just be fired. That's so revolting.

8 hours a day at your desk, 5 days a week if you’re full time. What’s wrong with wanting to personalise it? Fine if you don’t want to but you’ve must be some kind of a unempathetic soul-sucker if you can’t imagine some people might feel differently to you about it.

I imagine the “teddies are unprofessional” crowd are the same gang as those who also shudder at visible tattoos and people wearing trainers to work instead of high heels and a smart blazer.

We have a
Clear desk policy but within reason. I had a magazine type holder from IKEA with my bits and bobs in but it was organised and easily moved. Nothing else out. Others had a similar type of thing.

Teddies are a bit daft, though. I worked with someone who had a complete set of Teletubbies (mini ones, thank God) lined up on her desk.
It was a bit weird.

@GreyhoundG1rl

Teddies are a bit daft, though. I worked with someone who had a complete set of Teletubbies (mini ones, thank God) lined up on her desk. It was a bit weird.

Well, yes, I find that silly as well, but it doesn't affect other people does it if they have their own desk. Live and let live.

@ExtremelyDisorganised

Our cleaners are told to only clean bare surfaces, they aren't to touch or move stuff. We do our own keyboards etc (we did step this up at the start of the pandemic but scaled it back again when it became apparent surface contact was not a significant infection source, only doing shared ones regularly now).

This is the same for us. Computer screens/keyboards/phones etc are not cleaned by the cleaners, we are responsible for cleaning these ourselves. We did have a cleaner who would do a "deep clean" of phones and screens, but the issues it cause with it equipment not working properly after and screens all being moved etc put a stop to it thankfully.

Works well for us. No pressure on cleaners to move stuff. It's not their job to move stuff to clean under it.

I'm assuming the 'teddies are ok' people would be fine with an appointment with at the bank to discuss mortgages or whatever and the clerk having a row of cuddly toys looking at you over the desk?

@Sparklingbrook

I'm assuming the 'teddies are ok' people would be fine with an appointment with at the bank to discuss mortgages or whatever and the clerk having a row of cuddly toys looking at you over the desk?

It honestly wouldn't bother me. Why would it? They can surely still do their job? Their ability to approve or otherwise my mortgage or loan isn't affected by personal items on their desk.

Although in my experience, appointments with someone in a bank doesn't happen at their desk - usually a meeting room type environment.

Another example mentioned on here was a doctor having photos of their family. Honestly wouldn't put me up nor down. Can be a good reminder that they are just normal people, who have a life outside their work.

We have clear desk policy and sit at same desks majority of the time (area allocated for the team, so no-one outside the team can sit there unless there is a spare/no one due to use the desk that day).
It can be a bit of a battle to get someone that sits at the same desk 4 days out of 5 to not leave stuff on it, but it works. I absolutely cannot stand hotdesking on a desk that has been personalised.

I was the doctor person too @tigger1001, I just thought it was a bit strange to be looking at the doctor's children as I explained my symptoms. It was a nice picture though TBF.

As for teddies on the bank manager's desk that's a bit unprofessional IMO. I would be

@Sparklingbrook

I'm assuming the 'teddies are ok' people would be fine with an appointment with at the bank to discuss mortgages or whatever and the clerk having a row of cuddly toys looking at you over the desk?

Why would it be a problem? Unless the clerk asks the teddies for advice - now that would be weird.

It wouldn't be a 'problem' as such @Blossomtoes, just very weird. Luckily it's never happened to me though.
I used to work in a bank and none of the customer facing staff had clutter on their desks. Very professional.

I would recommend reiterating the clear desk policy once again, clearly and in writing taking the opportunity to make it crystal clear that failure to comply with the policy will result in a disciplinary.
As a manager you then need to be very firm to ensure compliance happens.
Report progress back to your manager at least once a week so she knows you mean business. At least then if this approach fails your manager should support you and take the appropriate action. Good luck!

God all these admin jobs where managers act like they are solving world peace!

Jesus how shit must all these places be to work at.

And then they wonder why people who are wfh don't want to go back.

How is staff turnover I wonder? High I guess!

Why would it be a problem? Unless the clerk asks the teddies for advice - now that would be weird.
Because like my friend Teletubby Woman, I'd find it hard to take someone who took their comforters to work at all seriously.