Power-crazy boss making changes at this time

[Shineyconkersfallfromsky]

My new boss has suddenly announced that we all move desks 'so that he can see the whole office'. This will mean all the visitors he receives each day will be trekking past my new desk area which is both annoying and disruptive.

I love my current corner desk (the one he wants to move to) and there is another corner desk he can move to (but the current person sitting there is totally inflexible hence the reason he hasn't asked her). I don't see the rationale and this has p*ssed me off...at a time like this we still have to work and I don't think the timing is great and I won't be happy sitting where he intends to put me.

Am I being unreasonable to say I don't want to move?

If he won't move someone else but is trying to move you instead then yes I would say you don't want to.

Well staying silent about not wanting to move will get you nowhere.

You need to state firmly but politely that you really do not want to leave.

Come up with a few detrimental reasons re your work if you can.

Otherwise it sounds as if you'll have to suck it up.

My new boss has suddenly announced that we all move desks 'so that he can see the whole office'.
This does not bode well for the future. Keep a diary and hope you dont need it.

I am a manager and I like to see the office and what is going on. It’s 100% reasonable

I agree it's reasonable for him to want to see everyone. Surely that's rationale enough?

It's also reasonable for you not to want to move. How about trying to think of an alternative arrangement of desks that would allow him to see everyone but wouldn't involve you - or anyone- having to have a desk where you are constantly disrupted by visitors.

Any desk move would need to be accompanied by a deep clean to avoid the risk of contamination. Now is not the time for sweeping changes. Now is the time for keeping the show on the road as best you can.

If those people aren't six feet away from you then you have every right to object.