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?

If as a part timer you are not being treated equally to a full timer in the same job you may have a case at an employment tribunal for discrimination.

When I read your post, I have to say, the first thing I thought was that it would be a university. I worked at three different Russell group uni's before defecting to the private sector (boo hiss) and sometimes trying to get work done was like banging your head against a brick wall, although STILL not as bad as you are describing!!

The fact you are a senior lecturer and enduring this is shocking! Can you not highlight what is going on to someone higher up?

That's appalling. Just the wasted work time as you work around the lack of facilities is ridiculous in itself.

I would put together a list of basic requirements and get quite stroppy assertive with the person who controls whether I get it or not.

Quite apart from anything else, it's a shocking waste of resources on their part if you are not able to do your job efficiently because of this crap.

My guess is that it is something to do with you being part-time. You probably have to be there every day to protect your "stake" on the precious computer, etc but the IT/facilities dept doesn't sound up to scratch if they can't connect you to a phone line and communal printer!

I really don't know how the people who are paid a small fortune for managing these places expect people to produce quality work in such awful facilities.

"The university hasnt much accomodation anyway so I doubt unions could do much."

They will have even less accommodation if the f-ing place burns down due to the electrical shortcuts you are having to take.

I have a computer now cumbria. A laptop whcih NEVER leaves my side. It took me nearly 2 years to get it

I teach in a college too. This is what it is like. I spend a fortune on paper and ink printing at home.

Ha ha to the poster who is surprised there is not not a high turnover of staff. Where would staff move on to ?

Im just glad to know Im not just being a princess about this

i used to work for the NHS in similar circumstances

Although I know it is common to work like this in colleges I don't think you are being a princess at all. It is of course a crap way to treat people.

I work for a university in a lowlier capacity than you, and have a much better set-up: my own office and computer although a shared printer. No, I don't find your situation normal.

I think I might apply for the OU. Can you just work at home when with them?

I work in a Russell Group uni too but have my own desk and laptop. Share a phone though. I spend a lot on my own printing and try to work from home when possible as we're based in a container. Yes a container. Well, several containers stacked ontop of each other with a weird staircase and portaloo's to give you the full picture. Was supposed to be a temporary building because the other building we were in was falling down. Literally. And full of asbestos. We've been here several years and will now be here at least 2 more but I recon we'll stay until 2020 or thereabouts. During the cold spell this winter it was 16 degrees in the "office" but we still didn't get to go home. I also work on short term contracts. Working conditions in academia are positively mideval! BUT I've never ever been without the basic work equipment needed to do my job and I'm not a lecturer or anything as mighty as that - I'm a mere RA. I do still "pay to work" though and always work a lot longer than the hours stated in my contract. Exploited, us?

My partner who is a part timer in the NHS has to hot desk and has nowhere to store files so brings them all home. From talking to others who work in the public sector (I don't) there seems to have been a real move towards hot desking over the last year. In the City I live in it is being done in quite a few places to cut costs. Of course it means that staff time is wasted which probably costs more in the long run.

That was me taking about turnover, finallyspring. Yes, I admit, in the current situation it sounds pretty naive. However, I gather this situation has been in place for a fair few years, so when there were other prospects, there must have been a fairly high degree of turnover, no?