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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not give up my good desk as I'm part time

81 replies

pbromum2 · 22/04/2015 08:38

I have one of the better desks in the office as I sit near a window and have plenty of space around me.

I'm 3 days a week, but some of the 5 days have hinted that I should give up this great desk.

Aibu to just ignore them?

OP posts:

londonrach · 22/04/2015 08:40

Seems abit silly to have the desk empty for 2 days. Can you hot desk?

Charis1 · 22/04/2015 08:40

it does sound like a resource that is being wasted 40% of the time.

Fluffyears · 22/04/2015 08:41

People covet my desk but I'm full time so they can ram it.

PoppyBlossom · 22/04/2015 08:41

Are you senior in any way to these colleagues? If not then I'd think you should be given a new work space.

Model5 · 22/04/2015 08:41

Desks are such an emotive/emotional issue - it's territorial!

The desk is being wasted 40%, could you "allow" others to use it when you're not there?

Aermingers · 22/04/2015 08:43

Having access to a window makes a lot of difference if you are stuck in an office the majority of the week. You're not so YABU.

Nolim · 22/04/2015 08:43

I work ft but when i work from home occasionaly someone else uses my desk. I dont see a problem with that.

Original poster

pbromum2 · 22/04/2015 08:46

I'm fine with someone using my desk on days I'm not in, however I don't want to be shifted to a rubbish desk for the 3 days I'm in.

OP posts:

AuntyMag10 · 22/04/2015 08:46

I think you should give it to someone who is ft. A bit mean to keep it unused for 2 days a week if it's a sought after spot.

ilovesooty · 22/04/2015 08:48

Ridiculous non issue. If they want a different desk they can approach a manager. Why don't you just tell them that?

Casimir · 22/04/2015 08:48

YANBU.

FenellaFellorick · 22/04/2015 08:50

I don't see why you should lose your desk on the 3 days you are in but you could say to people feel free to use my desk when I am not in, but I will be using it when I am in.

Why should it be free 2 days a week, yes, but also why should you not have it for the 3 days you are in just because you don't work 5 days?

twirlypoo · 22/04/2015 08:54

I know you won't like this but I think you should move desk. Are you more senior? It just feels a bit selfish to have it for 3 days when someone else would use it for 5.

londonrach · 22/04/2015 08:56

When i worked in an office we werent allowed to ever leave anything on the top of the desk apart from the phone and computer. Nothing personal was allowed at the end of the day. (Local council) If left on the desk it was thrown (after one warning). Everyone kinda had a desk but tbh we hot desked. Worked really well. Maybe you use it for three days and someone else for two days.

VoteForAlanBstard · 22/04/2015 09:05

Let me guess, public sector? Sounds like the kind of issues I see most days.

Being part time does not mean you're worth less than a full timer, why shoudnt you have a 'good desk'?

bearhug · 22/04/2015 09:14

its not your desk. it is your employer's. Do you know how much office space costs these days? I am amazed that anyone still has a desk that is 'theirs' rather than put to most efficient use!

Financeprincess · 22/04/2015 09:15

Just give up the desk. Do you want to look petty and silly? Because that's what people will think of you if you turn this into a big deal.

I once had to arrange desk moves for my team. It was horrific. Most people were OK about it but two people (women, I'm afraid) made an enormous song and dance about it. One announced that she had SAD and hence had to be near a window AT ALL TIMES (but couldn't produce any medical evidence of the alleged SAD) and the other raised a grievance about the fact that there hadn't been a formal consultation process on her desk move.

Both ended up looking like idiots. Don't be one of those people. It's even more dog in the manger-ish because you're only there three days a week.

DejaVuAllOverAgain · 22/04/2015 09:24

OP you're not less important because you're pt rather than ft. YANBU

Just tell them that they can use the desk when you're not there.

cashewnutty · 22/04/2015 09:28

I work in the public sector and until recently we were all very territorial about our desks. Then we got more staff and had to clear all he desk so we could hot desk. After the initial resistance we have all found it really fun and refreshing to sit at different desks and beside different colleagues. It has really enhanced our bond as a team.

Why don't you suggest hot desking? You might just like it. Then everyone gets a turn at the 'good' desk.

Model5 · 22/04/2015 09:28

I did a workshop recently on motivators/job satisfaction. We were given a list of thinks like respect from boss, a window, salary, your own desk, career opportunities, to put in order.

Most people felt the window and desk were insignificant but the discussion got very heated because for those to whom it was important, it was very important indeed.

MissDuke · 22/04/2015 09:29

I would just ignore them. Being part time is not a reason to move desks! I was amazed at how particular people got about desks when I did office work, when we moved offices (a few times over the years) I always just took what was left, not getting in a row over. How would it be decided who should get yours anyway? Sounds like it would just lead to more rows to be honest!

Model5 · 22/04/2015 09:30

Cashew, how you allocate the desks for hot desking? I agree with you but I once worked on that basis when I was p-t working from 9:30-2:30. To get a decent desk you had to be in at 8am and often by 9:30 there were no desks at all.

HexagonAlley · 22/04/2015 09:34

Do you work in a school? You can't hot desk in a school. Everyone has piles and piles of exercise books and essays and resources that cannot go anywhere else.

I'm PT too and used to have a nice desk. No way would I have moved. Now I'm in a crappier location but people still use my desk the 2 days in off. I'm no fussed unless I find their crap (books/essays/marking/resources) all over the desk when I come back

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 22/04/2015 09:35

It's logistics, do people have all their documents & paraphernalia stored in/on the desks? If so, then it'd make sense for someone to be based on the desk for 5 days straight, rather than having to carry stuff over for a day or 2 here & there.

If you're not using the resource 100% it's not unreasonable to re-allocate it so it is being used fully.

DidoTheDodo · 22/04/2015 09:38

Full timers get first dibs on desks where I work. They are there a LOT of the time.

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