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?!

We have a hot desk system and most people with disabilities use the desks provided - some are sit / stand. Anyone who has a dedicated desk or chair has a label on it, stating either do not use, or do not adjust the settings. We have various offices around the country so those from 200 miles away are not going to know without signage.

Are people there to see your reaction when you come in on the morning? If so, I wouldn’t show the slightest reaction, just chat away normally while you do the readjusting. They’ll get bored soon.

I agree with others, don’t use cameras or anti climb paint etc. If you start painting your work equipment you’re messing with it and it doesn’t belong to you.

I think you need to keep going back to your manager until they act.

Do not use a camera. You could be in lots of trouble for that. Rad Indian ink should do the job.

This is good advice. The person who is doing this is looking for a reaction from you. Don’t give them the satisfaction

Why did you do that?

So you don't think it is bullying when colleagues deliberately adjust the settings/positions on a chair designed for people with a particular health problem to allow them to work in comfort? What other reason could it be? Why would grown adults think that this is funny? Why on earth should OP have to adjust the settings every morning and plug in equipment that shouldn't have been unplugged? Would you like to be targetted by your colleagues in this way?

Yes, you can’t secretly film in your office, you can be fired for misconduct. Even if no one knew how would you explain that you know who the culprit is without giving away that you secretly filmed?No you can’t just say you saw them, that’s not proof if they deny it.

So @Poodledoodley is a self-confessed bully and @MsAmerica doesn't actually know what bullying is. What a depressing read this thread is.
I am so sorry @Hungrycaterpillarsmummy how upsetting. Keep a paper trail and keep complaining to your manager. It’s unacceptable.

Have you thought of disconnecting your mouse and taking it and/or the cord with you every night, or discreetly hide it in a drawer. Same with your monitor cord, or leave it hanging. I say take/hide them. They'll get the message. Also put your chair in a ridiculous position, such as really high/low, and same with the back. In the mornings be aware of anyone watching your actions. Hopefully you eventually find out who it is. If you are truly targeted (and I believe you)
the less you react and appear to be bothered by it, the fun is usually gone or they strike in another way. At this point it's become very juvenile and someone seems obsessive about it. Two can play the game.

I’d start calling in sick with back pain and tell your manager it’s been caused by people fucking about with your chair. That might get them motivated to do something about it.

You do know you and your colleagues sound like absolute morons? Poor woman who had to put up with the likes of you! Maybe reflect on your very bad behaviour?

If I was your manager I’d be going in there and making my presence known especially after op left. I’d also in the first instance be reminding the whole team of the relevant policy and the fact that breaching it could mean disciplinary action. If that didn’t work I’d be asking HR for advice .

@Poodledoodley seems to have zero idea or care that they are a bully. No self reflection in their reveal, no penny dropping moment. Bullies are too emotionally stupid to know they are bullies and blame the victim for making them do it. Disgusting.

Of course it’s bullying!!

You need to make this the managers problem. Your back is too bad to be able to reset the chair every day. Can they do it? Or you will wait for someone in facilities to come and do it. Whatever. You’re just standing around, NOT WORKING. Computer won’t work. Can you please sort this out manager? Keep on and on. If manager dips out, you will have to escalate to HR.

Just complain to HR.

It absolutely is bullying, and all the suggestions for booby traps or hidden cameras would be likely to backfire on you.
You should report this to your manager every time this happens, ask what she intends to do about it, and raise it with HR if there is no resolution.

Employ a sniper to take up a covert position in the office after you have left. A clean shot between the eyes, should inform you who is tampering and sitting in your chair in your absence.

Of course, you'll also need to work out how to dispose of the body (it's not really fair on the cleaners) and whether to eliminate all witnesses (how big is this open plan office?), and the fact that you might not be invited to the next office Christmas party...

Not sure where you'd get the sniper from as I haven't seen any on LinkedIn. I might have to rethink this one.

Would the troublemakers have to pick up your work if you called in sick? I’d be tempted to talk a lot about needing to go back to the doctors who you want to sign you off sick for the bad back caused by the dodgy chair.

I would not set up a camera or add any coatings. I would be tempted to watch on from a distance after I’ve left for the day.

Filming without consent could get you and the company into all sorts of trouble with data protection law.

It is bullying though. It’s so pathetic.

You really shouldn’t use a camera. Speak to manager again or HR and ask them to deal with it properly.

What planet do you live on where those things aren’t bullying?

This is the only way

I think this is bloody rotten. One person singled out to have their stuff messed with is crappy behaviour.

mid definitely use a camera to see who it is, and then tell manager you came back to the office and caught them.

How can you be so sure it’s not the cleaners?! It’s the most logical suggestion - why would any one waste so much time just to annoy you when they probs can’t even see a reaction from you.

Yes, this is bullying. Its causing you pain, distress and potentially long term issues.
You say you have an idea who is doing it, but do you have a sense of if in their eyes it's 'a bit of fun' or if they're purposefully making life difficult for you? If you think they're thoughtless but not malicious, I'd not let on I thought it was them, but chat with them at the kettle / watercooler/ whatever about how much pain you are in with your back, and how your chair seems to not hold its settings, adjusting it is causing you real issues, and you are really struggling that someone is targeting you. Tell them you feel like someone has a vendetta against you, and you don't know why. If, as I said, they're misguided doing it as a prank, then hopefully they'll be mortified and stop.
If you think it is malicious, then depending on how certain I was it was them, I'd tell my manager of my suspicions, with the reasons why and, as above, document it, report every time it happens, and if it's causing you pain and / or stress, get signed off by your doctor, as this will escalate the issue, and force the workplace to act.
Good luck x