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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Space invading colleague

41 replies

HotNatured · 24/03/2017 12:58

Fully prepared to be told IABU, first world problems, etc.

Work in an open plan office, the general vibe is a serious but pleasant environment. I'm v happy here...

Apart from the fact that it seems impossible for one of my colleagues to take a call without pacing around on his headset (he's a v senior, well respected guy). He always comes in my general direction and literally paces around my desk and up and down the area near my desk while he's on a call. I don't even sit particularly near his desk so I have no idea why he uses my area as his pacing ground.

It's driving me to distraction.

I've taken to passively aggressively looking at him as if to say "really?".... but he doesn't take the hint. It doesn't help that he's a v 'right on' cool guy and therefore his convos are quite grating. When I've got PMT I feel like dragging him back to his seat by the scruff of his neck. Non PMT days aren't much better.

Fully prepared to be handed a grip.

OP posts:
ProseccoBitch · 24/03/2017 13:47

YANBU. I would HATE this. You'd probably sound unreasonable if you said anything though, I think I'd leave my desk every time he did it and not come back until he'd finished.

BertsBlanket · 24/03/2017 13:48

Get your own headset and everytime you see him coming your way get up and do your own pacing. Mark your pacing territory!

Gizlotsmum · 24/03/2017 13:51

Ooh see I would randomly place chairs in his path... I have had this in the past and I have asked them to please move elsewhere as people are trying to work. It worked even if they did move off muttering at me...

HotNatured · 24/03/2017 13:52

I really thought you would all tell me to get a grip!

Yes, Prosecco that's what I'm thinking, if I say something I might come across as a bit of a snowflake...

I'll just have to get over it I guess.

OP posts:
WeAllHaveWings · 24/03/2017 13:55

we need a diagram of you office, your desk, his desk and the pacing area Grin

gettinfedduppathis · 24/03/2017 13:57

Time to get a nice noisy shredder right beside your desk...

wageslave · 24/03/2017 13:58

Electric fence around your desk, or stick your leg out as he prances past

YetAnotherSpartacus · 24/03/2017 13:59

Thumbtacks ... cant believe you gave up your own office

HiMyNameIsUnknown · 24/03/2017 13:59

Yea to a diagram being required.... I think you need to politely make him aware & explain you find it distracting, particularly when you are on the phone at the same time.

HiMyNameIsUnknown · 24/03/2017 13:59

^Yes not yea!

CheesyWeez · 24/03/2017 14:12

Well that's the answer then, ask him to stop as it's distracting you and your own calls are confidential!
good luck !!

SapphireStrange · 24/03/2017 14:14

No you wouldn't sound unreasonable if you said something and you don't have to get over it. Hmm Why can't people just be a bit assertive?

'Hi colleague. I wanted to ask you if you could not come so near my desk when you're on calls and walking about. It's distracting – and, as you know, my calls are often confidential, so I need to think about that too.'

CaoNiMartacus · 24/03/2017 14:57

YANBU. It is a rule of life that any phonecall made using a headset while pacing around will be composed entirely of utter, unadulterated bullshit.

BertsBlanket · 24/03/2017 15:25

Or 'accidentally' drop a bag of marbles (marble runs are your new hobby aren't they OP?) next time he comes pacing. That'll put a short, sharp stop to it Wink

August1984 · 24/03/2017 15:40

Cant you use the confidential thing? Say you don't feel you can have those conversations when he's pacing nearby.

Or pretend to speak to someone when he does it, stick a finger in your other ear, repeat "SORRY?!" a few times and glare?

August1984 · 24/03/2017 15:42

Actually i love the shredder idea. Genuinely don't think he'd mind if you just told him straight though.

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