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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Hot-desking in the office from hell...

81 replies

Somerville · 30/01/2018 17:48

I am very lucky to work mostly from home (freelancer), but a decent client wanted me in their office all week.
Good God, I have new respect for office workers.
Especially in open plan offices with hot desking. Which seems to mean that all the long-term staff have bagsied a desk, and freelancers have to squeeze in to whichever workspace is empty due to its regular occupier being off site.

Today I was lent the desk of a man who is either a secret eater, or just doesn't give a fuck. I have never seen so many crumbs in a desk drawer. Envy - not envy.

Also, I can't work out their etiquette for the tea-round, and definitely drank more than I made, so I think they all hate me.
I'm not asking if I'm being unreasonable, because I'm not! Companies encouraging noise and mess on the basis that it encourages collaborative working is just miserable. Ugh.

OP posts:
Violetrose123 · 01/02/2018 08:26

I think if I hotdesked, I wouldn’t accumulate so much crap on my desk. I feel a sense of shame whenever I realise that someone had used my desk when I’ve been elsewhere as I am such a hoarder.

This morning when I get to the office I am going to have a clear out

BikeRunSki · 01/02/2018 19:51

I don’t have any “crap”. S drawing of dd’s on the inside of my locker door, but family photos, personal mugs, desk toys etc do not exist in our office.

FluffyWuffy100 · 01/02/2018 20:01

In hot desk office no one who is perm in the office ACTUALLY hot desks, everyone has a desk that is 'theirs' if they are usually office based and woe betide some newbie comes in and sits at it!

FluffyWuffy100 · 01/02/2018 20:06

What is the thinking behind hot desking?

When you have agile workforce you can utilize expensive office space more efficiently because you don't need 1 desk for every person (because some are out at clients, some have a WFH day, some don't work full time)

BikeRunSki · 02/02/2018 19:07

What is the thinking behind hot desking?

Cost, it means we can have 450 desk for a staff of 600.

Somerville · 02/02/2018 20:44

My attempt at incorrect hotdesking is over and I'm happy.
I'm also totally out of capacity for anything social - I've suggested a weekend of silence to my family, but unfortunately they're unconvinced.

OP posts:
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