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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

or Is it rude to put decorations on somebody's tree?

93 replies

AlpacaPicnic · 03/12/2018 11:48

Have come into work this morning and our cleaner has added a bunch of decorations to our trees which has slightly annoyed me. She's very kind and generous and I'm not going to say anything to upset her but I wondered if my reaction was 'normal'?

FWIW to avoid drip feeding... we started putting it up on saturday but inbetween customers so it wasn't finished. We were going for a very specific colour co-ordination and the decorations added don't tie in with it. The decorations are all edible - chocolate and candy canes and we are supposed to be promoting healthy eating so it clashes with a 'core value' of the organisation. But I do have a stinking cold and am feeling quite cranky so that may have affected my initial reaction...

OP posts:
franklyshankly2 · 03/12/2018 12:03

I think it’s lovely. She brought in a little gift for you all like a little Christmas fairy

KittensAndChristmasCake · 03/12/2018 12:04

Well, if it clashes with your 'core values', send them my way and tell her you've eaten them and thanks very much Xmas Smile

SylviaAndSidney · 03/12/2018 12:06

I couldn’t be a grump about that.

RibbonAurora · 03/12/2018 12:13

Specific color coordination? Yep, sounds just like any other 'stylish' and ultimately soulless corporate tree. Core values? Well, unless you're a dental surgery or clinical dietician's office, a few candy canes and chocolate treats will hardly compromise a healthy-eating ethos. It's the season to indulge a little surely. Finally, since it's at work, it's a workplace tree, so surely she has as much right to contribute to the Christmas decor as any other team member
Not your tree, not your baubles, OP.

Valasca · 03/12/2018 12:14

“The decorations are all edible - chocolate and candy canes and we are supposed to be promoting healthy eating so it clashes with a 'core value' of the organisation.”

How does a rare Christmas candy treat clash with core values of healthy eating? It doesn’t unless your business is to peddle some food marketed as “healthy.” Which isn’t really healthy eating at its “core”

AjasLipstick · 03/12/2018 12:14

I think its rude. I wouldn't DREAM of it.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 03/12/2018 12:20

It's lovely that your cleaner feels she's part of the team despite all evidence to the contrary

MaiaRindell · 03/12/2018 12:20

I think YABU. The cleaner was being thoughful. I think it was very kind and totally in the spirit of Christmas.

Allaboutmeandyou · 03/12/2018 12:21

If it was your tree in your home then yes it would be rude but its a tree for the work place then no I don't. I think you need to get a life if small things like this bother you then I would hate to be around you when something serious was to happen.

llangennith · 03/12/2018 12:23

Remove the decs you don't want and decorate the tree as you intended.

Morley19 · 03/12/2018 12:24

seriously??

abacucat · 03/12/2018 12:25

You know the cleaner actually works there too? She is a colleague and has as much right to add decorations to the work xmas tree as you do. Stop looking down on her.

SleepingStandingUp · 03/12/2018 12:28

So you and some of your work mates had decided what to theme your tree around, another person who works there came and put some decorations on and now your upset?

Will it be seen by customers? If not, I don't see that edible is an issue.

Perhaps take the decorations off and hide the tree every night so she can't look at it

SheCameFromGreeceSheHadaThirst · 03/12/2018 12:28

Have come into work this morning and our cleaner has added a bunch of decorations to our trees which has slightly annoyed me. She's very kind and generous and I'm not going to say anything to upset her but I wondered if my reaction was 'normal'?

Nope, not normal, or especially pleasant

Trinity66 · 03/12/2018 12:31

It's not rude for a work tree, poor woman thought she was doing something nice probably

onalongsabbatical · 03/12/2018 12:31

She works there? Just like you do, right?

Trinity66 · 03/12/2018 12:32

Perhaps take the decorations off and hide the tree every night so she can't look at it

Grin
Frustratedmum78 · 03/12/2018 12:38

How very dare she.....ideas above her station that one.....Hmm

PermanentlyFrizzyHairBall · 03/12/2018 12:45

Like PP it would be odd if it was your personal tree at home (even then I would just take them down and redo them myself and not worry). A christmas tree at work is totally fine, I assume she hasn't glued them on so they can all be rearranged if necessary.

StoatofDisarray · 03/12/2018 12:48

Poor woman. I hope she doesn't know that one of her colleagues doesn't think of her as one of the team. So much for her lovely Christmas gesture. My suggestion is that you leave the decorations, work your "colour scheme" around them, and get the rest of your colleagues to organise a whip round for some nice chocs to say thank you to her for cleaning the shit out of your toilets, wiping up the coffee stains from the times you didn't use a coaster, and hoovering your hole-punch paper circles off the carpets.

HugoBearsMummy · 03/12/2018 12:52

I'd just eat them- problem solved Grin

LoniceraJaponica · 03/12/2018 12:52

Wow! You are easily offended.

She was probably trying to be helpful, and anyone who thinks this is rude needs to take a good look at themselves.

Regnamechanger · 03/12/2018 12:57

Sounds to me as if this is her way of giving you lot some little chocolate gifts.

ADastardlyThing · 03/12/2018 12:59

I love a core value or mission statement as much as anyone else but come on op Grin

Molakai · 03/12/2018 13:00

Just checking - is the tree part of a Christmas display for public viewing e.g. a shop? Or a tree to decorate the working environment which includes the cleaner?

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