Aibu to complain or would I just sound petty?

[Funkyslippers]

I work in support at a college. We sometimes have times when we're not needed in lessons so we sit in a communal staff/student area in our department to catch up on admin or any other tasks that need to be done. I noticed recently that I rarely see a particular member of our team until I spotted her going in to an office outside of our dept. I her asked in a friendly way why she was using that room and she said it was so she could always get a computer to work on (we use laptops but they can be v slow) and that her friend (the other person who works in there, nothing to do with our dept) had said she could use that room. So that's where she is permanently, when not in a lesson. My issue is, sometimes a student may ask for help or we need to manage the noise and behaviour by students in the dept, plus we're sometimes asked by our team managers to help out with tasks. This means she's not around to ask so she never needs to help out. I'm not really jealous as I really like the communal area as we get to talk to the students and I work in a really good team but she does get a nice cosy office to work in whenever she wants it! Should I raise it with my manager?

Why can't you just call her if you need her?

It does sound petty. Like you are snitching on her, rather than just talking to her first.

Can't you just bring it up with her?

We don't have individual extension numbers

How does this affect you exactly?

Just have a word with her. You can say 'we get called on in the communal area to do jobs. It feels a bit unfair as nobody asks you to do anything while you're in the other office'.

no it is petty. You don't want to work there. You know where she is. Just call her there is she is needed.

Then call her on her mobile, or stick your head round the door to say that she's needed.

Hoppinggreen because she's supposed to be part of the team and yet goes in an office where she probably hopes she won't be disturbed or asked to do anything. I can't delegate tasks to her as I'm not her manager

Petty

You're not her manager

I would do what @CatchYouOnTheFlippetyFlop says.

She probably isn’t using that room for the reason she told you & your team manager probably knows which is why this isn’t an issue. If you don’t like the current way your team does things and want a computer too then just ask your team manager.

I think I'd have a word with her too.

If your manager cares to notice, they surely will.

If it doesn’t affect you adversely and you actually like being in the communal space in the thick of it, just leave it.

If on any occasion it’s inconvenient to you to be disturbed and you need some back-up, you know where she is.

You're spending too much time thinking about other people and what they do.
You do sound petty and bored.
Rat on her if it'll make you feel better. I'm sure the communal area will be lovely to work in then!

Of course, it affects her! If there are four women in the office, and one woman hiding in another room, then when people come to the office, they only see the four people and so the work is split between the four people. The woman who has gone into another room, can do her own work at her own pace without interruptions.

It’s possible she has a medical condition that requires a quiet space to work on admin. You don’t know that.

How about you discuss this with her one-to-one, like an adult, rather than accusing her of “dodging tasks” on a worldwide public forum, of which she probably isn’t a member, and therefore has no way of defending herself. You are being extremely unprofessional. Childish, even.

feels a bit unfair as nobody asks you to do anything while you're in the other office'
I just couldn't walk up to another adult and talk like this. Its sounds childish. Life is unfair. Its up to this persons manager to say who can go where and when.

It's her personal choice to work where shes working.
If you feel it unfair to do all the tasks you have a choice to say "no , I am too busy, try whatsherface is in the office" but complaining about it to someone else is whiney and petty

And all four women sit meekly and don't say anything about there being another woman on the team? Unlikely!

She definitely doesn't have a medical condition! Without wanting to give too much information, one of our tasks is personal care for a student which we could be needed for at any time. The managers never seem to think to ask her to assist

How do you definitively know her private medical circumstances?

You would look petty and bitter if you complained about this.

I would stay out of it. But if there are tasks to be divided up I'll call her and ask her to join the rest of the team so you can all share it.

Mumsnet finest again, all calling you petty when in reality you raise a very valid point. I'd be tempted to just say next time someone comes in asking for help "would you mind getting xxxx to help she's in that room over there". It's not fair that she's hiding away and not helping out as a team!

I 2nd this!

God that’s so petty and you sound jealous as hell. If I was your manager I’d be side eying you and giving you the head tilt whilst thinking something in my head you’d not want to hear.

honestly it’s so cringe, she doesn’t get asked to help and she’s an office mummy can you chide her and stop it.

Next time someone needs help & you are busy tell them to go to the cosy office & ask her to help. Play clever not spitefully 😘