to think that you knock on the door of a private office before you barge in?

[choceyes]

The cleaner at work, every morning, barges into my private office without knocking and it's really starting to annoy me. She's just done it now. I have asked her to knock before coming in, she says yes yes and she does it again the next day.
She doesn't even come in slowly, she literally barges in and sometimes makes me jump if I'm occupied with something.
Everybody knocks on each others office doors at work. Even my boss would knock and wait for a response before coming in.

AIBU to be annoyed by this?

if you have asked her to knock - then she is in the wrong - maybe she might become more considerate if you say you are looking for a new cleaner !

Goodness, yes! That applies whether it's the cleaner, an office colleague or if you're in someone else's home.

Get a large sign printed in huge, red upper case letters

PLEASE KNOCK AND WAIT FOR A RESPONSE BEFORE ENTERING!

Can you lock the door?

I was told that our work etiquette is to knock and then enter (rather than wait). I do think it is impolite not to knock though.

I think it's the barging in that's annoying me and making me jump first thing in the morning. Yes knocking and walking in is also fine, at least it gives me prior split second warning!
I can lock the door, but it will look silly if my boss knocks on the door and then I have to unlock the door with my keys!

She must do this to everyone? In which case, if you have had a word with her and it is still happening, someone needs to speak to her line manager.

Do your actually need warning though? What is it you're doing there that's so secretive. If she comes in every morning then surely you know to expect her. I have a private office but I don't even close my door. It sounds like you're being a bit precious (unless your job involves needing intense concentration and non jumping at random visitors).

Put a window in your door and it will less of a surprise.

She is new, and the previous cleaner did knock so it's only been happening for a week or so, so her coming in is still unexpected!

oh nevermind, it's a trivial issue I know! Annoyed me a bit this morning though, hence starting the thread. I would rather work in an open plane office anyway though as I don't actually need the privacy that much and there is nothing secretive, it just the element of surprise when you are not expecting it!
I do have a window in my door, just frosted glass so can't see clearly who it is, but people pass the office all the time though, so it's a bit of a surprise when the door suddenly flings open and someone strides in!

it's really a non-issue I know!

It is an issue - its rude. If somebody has an office door closed you knock - its as simple as that. At work I used an office when I had confidential phone calls with HR, how does you cleaner know if you are in an important call with HR discussing a member of staff? Thats why she should knock and wait for you to answer.

Tell her again and if she carries on then complain.

Leave the door open, and spend the time when she cleans doing your rounds talking to your colleagues.

I'd prop the door open and use the time to talk to colleagues (like beast) and make myself a cup of tea.

From my own experience in a few different serviced offices, a lot of cleaners just don't knock. It almost harks back to yee oldy days when maids came in and out silently, and tried to disturb the people in the room as little as possible. It's bit weird nowadays, but I can imagine just wanting to get your rounds done as quick as possible without having the same, "hi, how are you, oooh these bins are full" conversation over and over again.

Why is the cleaner coming in to private offices in office hours? Don't they usually come in very early and clean before staff arrive?? (at least they do where I work)

It's not really trivial though- depending on what your job is, you could be in a meeting discussing confidential information- either business related or personal.

You could try asking her again, in a polite and friendly manner, to knock before she comes in as you would really prefer not to have to go to her line manager.

I think I'll just prop open the door when she is due (although this does vary too). I would never complain to her manager or anything like that though, it's a very laid back organisation and that would not be the done thing.
The cleaners can only clean whilst we are in the offices because only we have keys to the offices, the cleaning staff or even main security don't really annoying when you come back from holiday having lost your office keys

Bucket of water balanced on top of the door should do the trick!

Are you sure she understood you?