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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have asked colleague to pay for my coat?

282 replies

GreenSnot · 09/03/2022 13:30

Office based job. Colleague was flying around the office on a wheeled chair on Monday, I’d asked her to stop twice but she carried on. Then she ended up wheeling over my coat which was on the back of my chair (but partly on the floor). The coat got tangled in the wheels and ripped. It was a Barbour coat so not cheap but not massively expensive either. I said “you should pay something towards me getting a new one” and she said “oh chill out, it shouldn’t have been on the floor”. I said “you shouldn’t be flying around on the office on the chair!” Anyway another colleague charmed in and said she’d knocked a dent into the filing cabinet last week after crashing into it and she should offer to pay for that too.

Now a number of colleagues have taken her side and have started taking the piss like dropping a tea bag and shouting “someone needs to pay for that” etc etc

Was I unreasonable to ask her to pay towards my coat?

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 09/03/2022 14:15

She needs to be stopped. Take out a grievance against her. This behaviour is a form of bullying.

Sexnotgender · 09/03/2022 14:16

You’re not going to get her to pay.

Speak to your manager about it though. They’re now starting to bully you.

rookiemere · 09/03/2022 14:16

Do you have a coat stand? If so that's where the coat should have been.

Cognoscenti · 09/03/2022 14:18

I don't think she should pay anything as the coat was on the floor, however perhaps a manager needs to have a word to them about their behaviour.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 09/03/2022 14:20

Anyone remember the ripped Barbour coat thread from years ago?

CIaireFraser · 09/03/2022 14:21

Why was your coat on the back of your chair/the floor?

I think you both are BU. And more than a little bit childish.

RealRaymondReddington · 09/03/2022 14:22

You don't need a new coat for a small tear, just get it mended. I would suggest she pays half of the repair costs. If you were that bothered about it it shouldn't have been on the floor and she shouldn't be acting so childishly either.

Onlywomengivebirth · 09/03/2022 14:28

We used to do it all the time..have races etc. loads of fun.

I’d have immediately offered to pay though. But honestly, I was a pretty good driver..

Gonnagetgoing · 09/03/2022 14:29

Racing in an office on chairs is generally stupid…

Would the coat be suitable mended? By Barbour?

Orchidsonthetable · 09/03/2022 14:31

I’d not expect her to pay, but I’d be annoyed, she shouldn’t have been wheeling about and you shouldn’t be treating the office like it’s your floordrobe. Hang your coat up properly next time and no matter what she does your coat wouldn’t get wheeled over..

Brideandprejudice · 09/03/2022 14:32

What a stupid individual, behaving like a child in a place of work.

I'd speak to mgmt about the bullying form other colleagues as well.

Singlebutmarried · 09/03/2022 14:33

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Anyone remember the ripped Barbour coat thread from years ago?
Was looking for this exact comment Grin
Jaxhog · 09/03/2022 14:35

YANBU. While it is foolish to hang your jacket on the back of your chair, partly on the floor, that is no excuse for her childish, irresponsible behaviour. What would her position be if she knocked someone over who was then seriously injured? Or if she knocked over some equipment?

Either she pays, or your company does. Paying to repair your jacket will also go a long way towards letting everyone know that such behaviour is unacceptable in the office.

goodforyounoonecares · 09/03/2022 14:37

But Barbour will repair your coat for a small fee. No need to get a brand new one…

betwixtlives · 09/03/2022 14:43

of course you’re being unreasonable. You left your coat partly on the floor Confused. If someone had ripped it by tripping over it would you expect them to pay?

DorothyZbornakIsAQueen · 09/03/2022 14:47

Surely work need to provide a sufficient space to hang your coat rather than trailing on the floor?

I would probably offer £20 towards getting it mended, but if there is somewhere else to hang your coat up and you chose not to, I'm not sure if I would.

DorothyZbornakIsAQueen · 09/03/2022 14:48

But your colleafuse sound like dickheads and are verging on bullying. 2 separate issues.

londonrach · 09/03/2022 14:49

Abit of both...she should not be flying around the office on a chair and you should create a trip hazard with your coat.

TabithaTittlemouse · 09/03/2022 14:51

Is she a child?

Get it fixed rather than replace it.

girlmom21 · 09/03/2022 14:51

I agree with the others.
She shouldn't be flying around on the chair but you should have your coat hanging on the floor. It must have been a pretty big overhang for her to rip the coat and not collide with your chair.

If someone tripped over it would you expect them to pay for it too?

FinnulaFloss · 09/03/2022 14:52

Your colleague sounds childish and irritating - but you left your coat trailing on the floor - you risk it getting trodden on (or in this case wheeled on).

Personally I'd be wary about making this official or reporting to HR. From a H&S perspective, leaving your coat trailing on the floor as a trip hazard to others, you're hardly bathed in glory yourself.

Georgeskitchen · 09/03/2022 15:01

Yes the CF should at least pay half

RobertsRadio · 09/03/2022 15:02

She sounds like an idiot, but you shouldn't have left part of your coat on the floor, that is a trip hazard and hopefully you have learned your lesson. Coats should be hung up. Get the Barbour repaired and if she continues to behave like a twat make a formal complaint.

HazelBite · 09/03/2022 15:02

Your H&S officer should be having a stern word with both of you, Her for the stupidity of scooting around on a wheeled chair, (this was banned in the office I used to work in after an accident) and why wasn't your coat hung up, trip hazard or what!!!
You both need to go on a H&S course, and see some of the videos they have of accidents caused by childish and thoughtless behaviour.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 09/03/2022 15:08

You don't need a new coat - Barbour will do repairs.

I suppose you could ask her to go 50/50 on the repair cost but I do think you need to take some responsibility for having your coat on the floor in the first place.

You're lucky nobody has tripped or slipped on it. If it's too long to hang over the back of the chair, you need to put it somewhere else.