AIBU in thinking this is not the norm for a workplace

[indulged]

I need to know is this normal? Where I work we are so badly set up that I share a room with 4 people in a high traffic area (used to double as a tea room but we sorted that) where we have to do quite a bit of work plus hold potentially sensitive "client" interviews at our desks. No dividers. I have never had a phone or a printer in three years and it took me 18 months into the job to get a computer. I had to jump onto whatever computers I could and often had to wait until well after midday to get one. No work done except frantically searching for a work station.

There is no storage of filing cabinets, no shelves so I have to keep all my work and books in a cardboard box under "my desk". I cant even call it my desk as I work 3 days and people tend to use the desk when im not there and rife through my stuff if I leave it on the top. Each time I get in, there is crap on my desk.

One of the girls has to scrabble under the desk to connect her cables each morning. I used to but brought a long extension from home.

We are all on fairly good incomes and at a reasonably senior level.

Is this bloody normal?

Nope. Not normal to lack the tools needed to do the job on such a longterm basis.Out of interest do you have access to a communal printer or phone, or just expected to manage without?

Sounds shite to me. Who do you work for???

No. Have any of you said anything to management about it?

Sounds about normal for NHS clinicians

Are you public or private sector?

No communal printer. Ive always had to print at home of take things on a stick to a friend. Management just says thats the way it is.

Its a University.

I wondered too what sector you work for. I have come across crap working conditions like this in the public sector. Sharing a printer is not necessarily in itself wrong though.

Are you and your colleagues in a union?

Nope, not ifd private sector, sounds chaotic. Much more standard in the public sector sadly!

As you can imagine, I have a LOT of books and paperwork

Was going to say the same as socialhandgrenade! I'm taking a guess at public sector!
Seriously though, it sounds challenging and as though it really impacts on your ability to do your job so it probably needs bringing up with management.

Tax credits office?

yanbu

It's sounds horrendous! So they expect you to print off work stuff at home??? And presumably pay for your own printer, ink cartridges and paper? Totally out of order. They have to provide the tools you need to do your job - end of subject.

By the way, i used to work for the NHS and had my own personal office with the lot

Another ex NHS agreeing with social. I finally adopted a cupboard as an office at one point, put in a chair and table. At least I could dictate letters in peace, and leave valuables without fear of having them stolen. After a while a secretary gave me a filing cabinet

I'm NHS and don't have a desk. I'm clinical 3 days a week but office based one day a week. There are 6 of us who share 3 desks and 2 computers. The idea being that we probably won't be in the office at the same time.

So yesterday I spent the first 2 hours of the day perched on the end of someone else's desk with not enough space for my folders and no computer. I have no storage space at all so have to bring all my files home with me - 8 large ring binders. They live in the footwells of my car as I refuse to have them cluttering up the house. Can't even put them in the car boot as have a huge dog which is often in the boot.

I did wonder if it was a university: I worked like this for many years at my highly regarded Russell Group university. They also kept me on short-term contracts for many years, sacking me at the end of each academic year and re-employing me again at the start of the next.

The worst was having to see students, some with serious social or medical problems, in public spaces.

I'm surprised they haven't had more turnover, which would have freed up some space (!) and alerted management to your stressful working conditions (paying to do your job?! hmph!).

This is a health and safety issue, as well. Non-professionals connecting their own cables?! Are they serious about this, or do they not know? You have to tell them, as they are at best happy with the way things are, at worst wilfully turning a blind eye to this so they don't have to spend any money.

Definitely get your union on this as well, as unions can (indeed, have the responsibility to) hassle employers collectively about matters like this.

Its not something they are fussed about. We have always done it...moved furniture, connected cables, scrounbged old power boards from bins.

The university hasnt much accomodation anyway so I doubt unions could do much. We have been told to lump it as we are part timers and thats all there is available.

The folders in the car thing rings true to me. My car is my mobile office basically.

Im a senior lecturer and programmme leader for one ug and one pg programme. I do research as well.

Oh and also year tutor for final year ugs

You are a senior lecturer and were expected to work without a computer, phone and printer!

I am a lowly lecturer and that has truly shocked me.

You have no computer and you're an academic?! that's awful! (where are you?) I work at a University, not a hugely big one either and am just a lowly administrator and I get my own computer, my own pritner AND my own office (although I do sometimes wonder if they've realised I'm there as it's a very jammy set up)

Programme leader/SL?

That's bad then.

At university, (1 Russell Group, 1 not) the only academics who shared were the phd students, who were usuAlly 2 to an office.
When I worked in a university (well-regarded ex-poly) the situation was similar.

G'wan... name and shame...