To think it’s not that weird and filthy to sit on a desk?

[BriceNobeslovesMurielHeslop]

i work in a environment where often people are coming and going, there are often impromptu meetings with several people who have come from different departments, and often chairs go missing and never come back.
it isn’t that unusual for somebody to sit on a desk or table over the course of the day. This incenses two of my colleagues- according to them it is a disgusting thing to do. They have actually been found shouting at colleagues because of it.
I have never come across this before- is it a thing? If it was one person I would assume it was just a foible but two makes me wonder if this is a thing that some people really think.
YABU- your colleagues are right- it is disgusting and unhygienic
YANBU- your colleagues are being odd.

I agree!!

Surely there are things you all should/shouldn't do - sitting on beds/desks and clean as you go?

In my last office about 50% we’re so nasty you’d be dirtier after sitting on them 🤮

If you’re hot desking they can just clean the desk before they use it if they’re that bothered? I’d say a clothed bottom could be cleaner than some people’s bare hands tbh.

Sheer curiosity, as it's not important, but why do you need to sit on children's desks "all the time" when they're not there? I'm a bit puzzled by that.

Because kids tables are generally at adult arse height and you get sick of sitting on kids chairs with your knees under your chin (disclaimer -I say this as a volunteer and not a teacher)

TheChurch, thank you. Thank. You.

So much nicer than bum.

Tut.

That 'tut' was to Moira for using the A word.

(I am joking, by the way.)

We are in Scotland so we do have the delightful “bahookie” at our disposal

YANBU. Your shouty colleagues are weirdos. That kind of prissy, pernickety fastidiousness does my head in. I'm a teacher and often perch on desks too. It gives you a better vantage point over the entire class than sitting on a chair does, and provides a brief respite from the endless standing. In one classroom I had to literally climb all over the desks because it was the only way to get to the windows to open them to avoid setting off the CO2 alarm.

Love it.

Do they never allow visitors to their homes to sit down anywhere then, in case poop gets on their chairs?

I suppose they're worried about eating their lunch off a desk infected with bum interface but we don't eat off the sofa, or only just that once. Also, excreta not poop, thanks.

I worked with a lady once who had an issue with this. It was the whole "women maybe menstruating when they did it" issue. She also wanted music in the toilets so you could hear anyone going to the toilet.

In a safe catering handbook it is declared that tables/workbenches/preparation areas should not be sat upon because the garments covering the bottom in question may have spent time in conditions where contamination may have occurred eg.while on a bathroom break

Hat tip to Tkwal.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I am also a teacher who sits on vacant desks. My arse is definitely not the most disgusting thing those desks encounter.

Dahlietta, leaving your bottom to one side, like what? Snot? Children's tears?

In an infection control seminar many years ago we were roundly admonished and told not to keep rolls of micropore in our uniform pockets by the lead infection control nurse

natural fauna and flora from the pelvic region apparently gravitate through clothing layers and we were told could contaminate the tape and then spread infections to patients

you say you’re in a hospital so I suppose you could apply the same to your situation and so best practice would be not to sit on desks and at the very least be respectful of your colleagues boundaries

At the height of covid, we had to sanitize the chairs, seats and backs, that we sat on in the dining room. Every time I did it, I'd loudly declare "phew, glad I've got rid of those covid bum-germs!"

@Tomnooktoldmeto I’m a currently practicing nurse and have never been told that - I’ll have a look in the literature!
And as for “respecting my colleagues’ boundaries”, one of the woman flies into a spittle filled rage whenever she sees it. She’s actually upset people she gets so angry. Is it too much to ask that she states those boundaries in a respectful way, especially with respect to something that many people obviously consider perfectly reasonable behaviour?

What do they say one someone sits in their chair?

Fucksake.

The reaction is unreasonable. Offer someone a chair, have cleaning products at hand.

The person who flies into a rage is harassing and should be told as such, and if an approach does not work, then a complaint to HR.

Hospital is the clue. I had never come across the idea of it being wrong in my life, until one day a hospital nurse said something about it would be wrong for her to sit on the bed, as she want to fetch a chair.

So I guess it's part of hospital hygiene rules?

@InstantSunshine
I may have some smelling salts, if you are feeling faint 😆

I am also a teacher who sits on vacant desks. My arse is definitely not the most disgusting thing those desks encounter

Too true, anyone stressed about the top of the desks needs to take a look at the underside.😷(have we lost the green faced emoji?)