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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Creepy desk colleague

26 replies

TitaniumTess · 23/09/2021 19:05

So, I went on holiday recently from work. When I came back to work, lots of paperwork around my office had been moved. Someone had put some documents and info on the wall of my office.

I rang office admin to check if anyone had been working in my office whilst I was away. They said no.

Then a guy who works for me popped in to say that he had tidied my office when I was on holiday, to help me out. Likewise, he had helped by putting some of the docs on my office wall.

I was so shocked that I just said 'OK.'

Is this creepy as hell or a work mate helping out? :/

OP posts:
Original poster
TitaniumTess · 23/09/2021 19:06

Sorry, i should have clarified:-

YABU: colleague just helping out.
YANBU: creepy as hell

OP posts:
starskey80 · 23/09/2021 19:13

Why did he put documents on the wall??

Are you an ITV police detective??? 😂

SpookyIan · 23/09/2021 19:15

Surely he just thought he was helping?

Why is it creepy? Do you have things at work you wouldn't want him to see?

Booboosweet · 23/09/2021 19:16

I don't think it's creepy

veryanonymous · 23/09/2021 19:17

Creepy.

veryanonymous · 23/09/2021 19:18

You know him and your work relationship with him. If it feels creepy, it probably is.

WoozySnoozy · 23/09/2021 19:18

Why are the docs on the wall? Is your colleague in charge of monitoring compliance with the clear desk policy?

WoozySnoozy · 23/09/2021 19:19

He's spying on you

Lasttimeneveragain · 23/09/2021 19:20

@starskey80

Why did he put documents on the wall??

Are you an ITV police detective??? 😂

I used to work with someone in the police who pinned EVERYTHING to the wall.
Lasttimeneveragain · 23/09/2021 19:21

OP, I think your colleague was making a passive aggressive dig at you for having a messy desk/office.

Do you not have a clear desk policy in work?

Original poster
TitaniumTess · 23/09/2021 19:24

Clear desk policy yes, in theory but it's my own office and I left for hols quickly.

I quite fancy a police drama now. With big marker pens connecting the bad guys on plastic sheeting :)

OP posts:
FOJN · 23/09/2021 19:28

I don't know if the behaviour in isolation is creepy but it oversteps a boundary. If he does not need to work in the office or is not senior to you and making a point about untidiness then he has no place deciding what you would find helpful.

I would speak to him and tell him you were so shocked by his actions and "confession" that you didn't know how to respond at the time but in future you would like him to stay out of your office unless he has a work related reason to be there.

MyPatronusIsACat · 23/09/2021 19:45

Yep creepy. And intrusive and nosey. WTF has it got to do with him how you have your desk? Would hate this myself.

Submariner · 23/09/2021 19:47

Weird. But also it would make me think he doesn't have enough to do in his job. How does he have time to go messing with colleagues' desks?

lannistunut · 23/09/2021 19:48

Can not decide if it is creepy without knowing the person, but it is totally inappropriate unless he needed to use the desk.

Tell him to leave your stuff alone.

samwitwicky · 23/09/2021 19:49

If it's your own office and no one should be going in, why wasn't it locked before you left?

midlifecrash · 23/09/2021 19:52

Has he got a desk you can tidy? See how he likes it.

Sn0tnose · 23/09/2021 20:03

Then a guy who works for me popped in to say that he had tidied my office when I was on holiday, to help me out. Likewise, he had helped by putting some of the docs on my office wall

Why did he think you needed helping out? Does he think you’re so ditzy that it wouldn’t have occurred to you to put things up on the wall if that would be the best place for them? I hope you’ve taken them down.

GloriousGoosebumps · 23/09/2021 20:09

YANBU. I'm wondering if he was using the excuse of tidying your office to have a nose around for any confidential / interesting information that he wouldn't normally be privy to. I'd read him the riot act and then give him additional work as he clearly doesn't have enough to do.

Antinerak · 23/09/2021 20:16

I had a similar situation a few years ago, I came back to my locked office from my lunch break to find all my personal items and all but 1 pen from my stationery holder was removed. My weirdo colleague claimed he walked past and noticed it needed tidying so went ahead and did it. He must've seen from outside where my gym bag was and used his eyes to rifle through it too. Creep.

Hawkins001 · 23/09/2021 20:41

A kind gesture, but to be on the safe side, was any documentation available that has sensitive or classified information ? and do a sweep of your office for any bugs, camera s microphones ect

Thadhiya · 23/09/2021 20:50

I'd certainly consider him an utter bellend and be on the lookout for the next time he rummaged through my stuff.

Probably not worth reporting yet, but people like this keep cropping up like bad smells - he'll fuck up again sooner or later.

Very inappropriate to have gone through your documents and 'tidied' - sounds more like snooping, really.

Slothkin · 23/09/2021 20:51

I’d normally think this was really weird - and pinning stuff up for you definitely is - but if you left documents available when you have a clear desk policy they have done you a huge favour.

Original poster
TitaniumTess · 23/09/2021 20:52

It was a costing diagram on the wall.

I will re-sort my office, take down the postings and have a word about personal boundaries. He should have known better ref Covid too! :)

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 23/09/2021 20:55

Was it a particularly attractive coating drawing? A nice bit of art to brighten the wall? Confused

Not creepy just plain odd.

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