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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Desk taken at work while on maternity

459 replies

Flopsy145 · 25/01/2022 04:23

I'm coming to the end of my maternity leave and have found out that a man in my team has moved into my desk while I've been off and replaced it with a standing desk. I love my desk, it has a window and privacy which I need more than him in the role I'm in, and I can see my daughter's nursery.
He's on more money than me, and didn't even ask to have my desk, which still has a locked cupboard of mine next to it which I need.
The desk I've been moved to is pretty shit.
AIBU to demand my desk back?

OP posts:
LookItsMeAgain · 25/01/2022 09:23

I can understand why you're feeling this way @Flopsy145.

Lots of companies have hot-desks though this is not the situation where you work it seems.
Lots of companies shuffle where staff are located in the office space, but no one else (that you're aware of) has had to move during the absence so it is just him and you that have had to move.

As you are working on HR related issues, unless he requires the same level of privacy for conversations/communications, I'd use that as your way to start the conversation about getting 'your' space back.

So many people on this thread have said that it's your employers space but the employer allocated that space to the OP and her cover during maternity leave used the same space. It's not a hot desk space and no other colleagues were moved during a shake up or reallocation of these workspaces. It appears that only when that person left did this colleague spot an opportunity.

I'd suspect that he's been eyeing up that space for whatever reason and I would move him back or at least move him to a different location in the office, if he was the only one to move.

As for standing desks having shorter leads, surely by the fact that they are height adjustable, they need to have longer leads to allow for that to happen, thereby making them suitable to be located any where near any sockets and network ports?

Toanewstart22 · 25/01/2022 09:23

I’m guessing you and him didn’t have a great relationship pre maternity leave

RollerGirl7 · 25/01/2022 09:24

I don't want to send these comments about team leaders and managers who are shocked that they don't have the best desk

In my experience showing that you don't automatically deserve the best desk just because you happen to be more senior is a great way to go and respect by those you manage.

My company went open plan a little while ago and once I could have given myself the best desk with the window seat in the most private position I didn't because I don't feel my job title means I should automatically have a more comfortable working environment.

Plenty of people do private or sensitive work in open plan offices using privacy screens or similar that's complete red herring as it seems you just want the most convenient desk

tigger1001 · 25/01/2022 09:24

@C8H10N4O2

The OP should definitely not message the person using the standing desk

Why on earth not? Start at the basic level and save escalation for if its needed.

It's not his decision though. And it's not the op's either. It's their line managers decision. She needs to discuss it with her line manager and not the staff member. It's very possible it wasn't his decision to move there in the first place so it would create an atmosphere.
madisonbridges · 25/01/2022 09:25

If you're that important to your managers, it should be a fairly easy thing to get one of them to kick him off the desk, then. Problem sorted.

Flippydip · 25/01/2022 09:25

I voted YANBU because I came back after maternity and asked for my desk back (it was by the window, bigger desk, etc) and the person covering me moved off it without any hesitation. My boss also agreed I should get my desk back.

Original poster
Flopsy145 · 25/01/2022 09:25

@MaChienEstUnDick don't worry, it is very safe, I'm technically already back just on annual leave. And in my organisation it's very hard to fire someone unless they seriously fuck up repeatedly. And my boss and LM are desperate for me to come back, so my job is fine!

Don't worry I won't be sneaking in or faking anything haha.

All I can do is ask, I get on alright with him, if it doesn't happen then so be it, I wouldn't make it awkward or uncomfortable I would move on, just in an ideal world I would like to return to my original space that would have remained my space had I not been off!

OP posts:
Toanewstart22 · 25/01/2022 09:26

* And in my organisation it's very hard to fire someone unless they seriously fuck up repeatedly. *

Public sector you say?
This pisses me off so much

Justtobeclear · 25/01/2022 09:27

Standing desks are usually only installed with DSE assessments and need to be installed in specific ways in order be safe for the individual and the environment the desk is in. There should be a record of risk assessments done to ensure safety. Claiming discrimination or ownership is likely to get you no where as the individual clearly has a need and may come under specific disability or employment legislation. Which is also why I wouldn’t directly contact him - if you are involved in HR you must know that actions like that put you at risk of harassment and bullying claims. I think you need to accept that it’s no longer your desk area.

RollerGirl7 · 25/01/2022 09:27

*I don't get these comments....(not sure where 'to send' came from)

girlmom21 · 25/01/2022 09:27

@Toanewstart22

* And in my organisation it's very hard to fire someone unless they seriously fuck up repeatedly. *

Public sector you say?
This pisses me off so much

Politics isn't it Wink
Flickflak · 25/01/2022 09:27

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

LankylegsFromOz · 25/01/2022 09:27

I've not read all the replies but I'd feel like you and reckon you should give him notice like you said. He's a chancer counting on the fact no-one will call him up of his cheeky fuckerdness.. do it OP and let us know how you go 🙂

Toanewstart22 · 25/01/2022 09:27

* I would like to return to my original space that would have remained my space had I not been off!*

But lots of things may have been different “had I not been off”

Original poster
Flopsy145 · 25/01/2022 09:28

@Toanewstart22 trust me I feel your frustration, there have been some people I've come across who would have been fired long ago in another workplace, it's very annoying as some people think they can do what they want (or not do) as their job is safe.

OP posts:
RedskyThisNight · 25/01/2022 09:29

So this is only for 1 day a week? And presumably you were working 5 days a week in the office prior to maternity leave i.e. your own working arrangements have changed substantially?
I don't think you can expect him to move to accommodate you -but clearly if your current position is not suitable for confidential work, then you can request somewhere else.

MaChienEstUnDick · 25/01/2022 09:29

@Toanewstart22

* And in my organisation it's very hard to fire someone unless they seriously fuck up repeatedly. *

Public sector you say?
This pisses me off so much

Yep, just asked my DH (director level) who deals with equipment and shizz for new starters in his team... He said 'me, my team are too busy doing actual work and I haven't met an EA since 1999.'
satelliteheart · 25/01/2022 09:31

This happened to me when I went on mat leave, I handed my notice in. There were other reasons but it felt like the final straw

Justilou1 · 25/01/2022 09:31

I would just approach him and say “I’m back now, you can move your desk back to where it was as I’ll be needing access to my drawer.”

Original poster
Flopsy145 · 25/01/2022 09:32

@MaChienEstUnDick well there's about 70 in my wider organisation so we must work in very different sectors.
@RedskyThisNight 3 days a week I'll be in the office

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoing · 25/01/2022 09:35

Sorry OP but you're being very childish about this. He's allowed to have his desk wherever he wants and as you've been off and are now back 3 days a week I think his needs trump yours. Things change and office space and how it's used changes too. No one has to ask you.

I'd ask for privacy screens but you cannot (and you'd look unhinged if you said it) ask to be able to see your daughter's nursery. You really do not want to be the one worker who makes extra fuss and then your work accommodate you to mollify you, that will make you enemies.

Gonnagetgoing · 25/01/2022 09:38

@Toanewstart22

* And in my organisation it's very hard to fire someone unless they seriously fuck up repeatedly. *

Public sector you say?
This pisses me off so much

@Toanewstart22 - where I last worked it was public sector but someone fucked up (by bullying and discriminating) a lot and they were disciplined which is rare apparently.

I was told once years ago semi seriously that you could murder someone in government (this was in a gov job) and they wouldn't fire you... Hmm.

Blondeshavemorefun · 25/01/2022 09:40

Ok then you need to ask for a working space where your back is to the wall so no one can see your work

In the end it’s a desk / work space

Notjustanymum · 25/01/2022 09:42

I voted YABU, as most companies are moving to hot-decking in the industry I work in. Get privacy screens for your monitors to prevent him from reading over your shoulder, and address any issues of noise as they happen.
You are lucky to have an on-site Nursery, but you have to let them look after your baby while you are working. Have you considered that part of the reason for the move could be to remove your potential distraction by moving you away from the view of the nursery?
I think in this case, to demand “your” spot in the office back, or to pull the discrimination card because of a desk move would have an adverse effect on anyone wanting to go on maternity leave in future…

NatashaBedwouldbenice · 25/01/2022 09:46

So am I right in thinking that you need/want a desk with your back to the wall, rather than this particular position?

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