Someone is secretly bullying me at work..

[Hungrycaterpillarsmummy]

And I don't know who it is.

Basically, someone constantly changes my chair settings on the days I leave at 3pm (and others are in the office until 4/5pm).
I have a really bad back so my chair is set at a position that helps it plus we all have to do ergonomic checks as part of an EHS thing for our desk and chair.
So it really annoys me when it has been played with and someone is doing it on purpose. Other things happen to like the cables of my monitor are unplugged and my mouse is switched off.
When I started there over a year ago there were a couple of guys who would do stuff like this and it happened so much I had to bluntly tell them to stop. And they did. But this seems to be a bit 'extra'. I obviously made the mistake of showing my annoyance when it has happened previously (and by that I mean by saying something like "who has changed my chair settings?"

But the issue is - I don't know who it is and won't be able to find out.
My manager won't be able to find out. There's no CCTV and no one would admit it if she brought it up..so what do I do?!

OP's already told us that each employee is responsible for doing their own ergonomic assessment.

I agree with Calliopespa -

Those things are bullying.

Pranking is only pranking if the other person finds it funny. OP does not, and has quite clearly asked for it to stop.

What you care about is neither here nor there, what can result in instant dismissal is.

So it's the OP's fault rather than the individuals targeting her?
Good to know victim blaming's still a thing on here.

Because she also stated: Honestly the office is very bitchy and childish.

ie it is a toxic environment.

I think its bullying too. Would using this stuff help? Its intended to track rats and mice so you'd have a legit reason for using it. I am not sure how well it clings to hands. but maybe even using it would be an aversive to the "prankster" There are more expensive options designed to catch humans which do stay on hands and clothing. I also think your manager is a wuss, try telling them how much time is wasted by your having to reset your chair and computer every single blooming day......of course good old fashioned itching powder is also an option https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/197070657949?_skw=uv+powder&itmmeta=01JYGH5N884W1Y3Y3XS68NTWEX&hash=item2de253999d:g:gYEAAOSw4GFnxJFt&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1dIqZI54qjjv0y%2BlbBGWaEW6h%2BUNClbFmP8mVQWGYiCJQFU2vuVNJgqoF3YQgVLPdv%2FoaxgCeQEnJkUNe3wZOUvfUjga%2BHBYFKHx0QjjCBBEmiyU8u6lOPH0BAZ13KvACaE12n3NkPahkNtJffKsF57Y1dyDK6UWHi8e7CEAD5GlGFNpeez6VV8gr1us%2BdUruC6xgcaa6Cpd6c8PPHtJFLk%2BC5OlQCXhxslgrQarn7GMYUvGe2K2NFuSiKhdAqJlIPlEqbg1QNjbdhVhpcZkaCP%7Ctkp%3ABFBMuNSWkfRl

Does any manager work in an office that overlooks your desk space, by any chance? You could do with a manager or supervisor keeping a discrete eye out and witnessing it a few times.

Honestly, do not get into trying to 'catch the culprit' or pranking them back or filming them. Take it seriously, act like an adult, talk to ACAS for advice and go to management/HR.

Well, that's the clincher, I suppose. It's certainly a spite campaign - but how petty and small.

You could also respond by not responding, difficult though that must be. Keep some wipes by your desk, clean the mechanisms every morning, make plugging in your wires part of your everyday routine. (I know how tough even small things like this can make your working life with a damaged back - I have one too).

Report it to HR and your manager with all details, including the cream smeared onto the mechanism. After that, it might be best just to let it go and quietly despise your bully as the craven coward they are. If you do use a camera you can bet they'd be onto it and use it against you: strangely enough bullies are always well-versed in self-preservation and know their own rights like the back of their hand. There is also the possibility that if they're as petty and devious as all that, they're deliberately trying to lure you into a response so that they can have you disciplined.

Do not fall for their games. If you chase your tail trying all manner of ingenious measures to catch them out, all you are doing is dancing to their tune.

Really sorry this is happening to you, OP. There is something really grubby and distasteful about a nasty little campaign like this.

Those Lily stamens would be good. They produce that yellow Pollen that stains hands and clothes

This - put more succinctly and to-the-point than my post did!

I agree. It's appalling, spiteful, childish and unprofessional behaviour by one or more of OP's colleagues who are old enough to know better. However, OP told us in one of her earlier posts "I did tell her and she agreed it would be annoying but like I honestly don't know what she could do!" So, OP has told her manager and her manager has done f-all about it. OP now needs to raise a grievance to formalise her complaint and this is particularly important for two reasons:

• The grievance process has defined timescales for action so her employer can't ignore it, and
• OP has been employed for fewer than two years so has limited employment rights, but all employees have the right not to be discriminated against from day one, and if OP stresses that the settings of her chair are to help with a back problem (which her manager already knows about) then she has the basis for a potential ET claim for disability discrimination should her grievance not be upheld by the company and resolved.

Yes, I thought it was just me! OP's now got to become a forensics expert! 😂😂😂

The person doing this is like one of those people who smear shit in the toilets - unhinged. It just isn’t a funny prank but I can imagine a twisted fucker smirking everyday op has to clean up their metaphorical shit every morning.

I have never read a thread filled with such appalling advice before.

Do not retaliate. Do not use a camera or set any form of trap

Use a camera and you'll be fired. You could also be fired for these trap ideas if management deem you to have damaged work property.

Don't bother with water cooler chat or attempt to show you're unbothered, just deal with it professionally and efficiently.

For gods sake, use your head and do as sensible people have advised: speak to your manager, get them to act, if it continues go to HR. Document everything

As an aside. @MsAmerica really interested to know what you would consider bullying (genuinely)?

What was the point of that though?

Did it honestly bring you joy to be such a knob?

Is there a cupboard or room that your manager can lock your chair in overnight? Of If I was your manager I’d make sure I was around your team after you’ve left, keeping an eye on them.

If I was you @Hungrycaterpillarsmummy I would just start interrupting your manager to deal with it every time it happens.

"Hey, boss can you help me? I cant bend down to sort the cables out, you know, because of my back! Can you plug them back in for me?" I'd do this with a wide eyed innocence. Whilst they are at your desk doing the cables, sit in your chair and say "im sure this broken, i keep having to readjust it every day, how much did this cost? Can I have a brand new one because there's obviously a problem with this one and you know i need a decent chair because of my back problem!"

But she plainly doesn't want to leave - and nor should she for the sake of one or more pathetic individuals learning to grow up. If anyone should leave, it should be her childish, spiteful tormentor(s).

Your colleagues are behaving like children so treat them like children.
Ignore the childish behaviour and they'll stop. Quietly plug in your cables and switch on your mouse, readjust your chair and rise above it.
By letting it upset you you're encouraging them to continue. Reset your chair each morning without making a fuss - ie no sighs or tongue clicking from you, don't let them see you reacting. Keep your facial expression neutral.
They'll soon get tired.
Surely its no big thing to have to adjust your office chair - or is it?
All the rubbish about cameras and sticky dyes will only backfire and could get you the sack.

I'd try to narrow it down via the manager. Do you have to clock in and out via your desktop? There could/should be a record of everyone's attendance somewhere especially if flexi/WFH is involved. Manager could get a print out and would know from that who is either in before you or leaves after you.

Then a mail could be sent by manager stating the bullying is happening and records show that x number of staff are in the office at certain times always when this occurs.

Can you WFH for a while? Can manager hot desk you all so that you are a moving target!

Just some ideas off the top of my head. I've only read OP posts, so someone may have said the above already.

And what ways would that be? How many times does it have to be said that filming can be considered misconduct and a sackable offence. How would you feel if you knew that colleagues could secretly film you at work with no consequences?

"Surely its no big thing to have to adjust your office chair - or is it?"

It is if you have chronic back pain that is so severe that you need a specially adjusted chair in your work place.

I’ve been really badly bullied in the workplace in the past, so bad that that eventually it made me lose my job. So yes the small things can get worse and worse in time so it’s best to nip it in the bud.

Make a chair log for a fortnight and work out the top three candidates. When each one of them is working later than you pop back in after forgetting something important in your drawer. The time that the chair has been altered you know which person it is.