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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Colleague charging electric scooter at work

276 replies

Whatt · 14/04/2023 00:12

One of my colleagues has recently started commuting to work on an electric scooter, which is great for the environment and saves them money on travel expenses. However, the issue is that they've been using the work place plugs to charge their scooter during the day.

Now, I'm all for being environmentally friendly and reducing waste, which is something that our management team has been pushing for lately. They've switched to cheaper hand wash and toilet roll, and they no longer provide bottled water or tea, coffee, and biscuits in the staff room. I understand that these changes are necessary due to the high cost of living and the need to reduce expenses.

However, I can't help but feel like it's a bit unfair that my colleague is essentially getting free electricity to charge their personal vehicle while the rest of us are being asked to make these small sacrifices.

I'm also worried that if our electricity bill goes up, management may take away other benefits and incentives that we currently enjoy, without realizing that the charging of the electric scooter is the cause.

I'm not sure if my colleague is aware of the impact this is having on our electricity bill, but I feel like it's something that management should know about. I don't want to be seen as a snitch or cause any unnecessary conflict in the workplace, but I do think it's important to be transparent and fair.

Yabu = mind your own
Yanbu = they're taking the piss

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
crazyaboutcats · 15/04/2023 21:26

You've obviously decided that you just don't like it and are looking for an excuse to object to it because there isn't one, and pinning your unrelated resentments onto it for good measure

Everyone is not going to go to work on a scooter. Even if everyone did then any issues that arose from it like space could be addressed as they arose. More likely your management will just let everyone figure it out between themselves just like with the tea and coffee situation. And there will never be a choice between a scooter room or well stocked refreshments, neither are happening

Seriously find a new job it's not going to get better

Isiteveningyet · 15/04/2023 22:04

DojaPhat · 15/04/2023 11:56

Because this is the very essence of some people's existence. These people who thrive on this sort of thing, curtain twitchers at home and 'self-appointed' moral police at work. These kind of people are the sort who would go to speak to a manager because their colleague mentioned being tired in passing so someone like the OP would seek to report said colleague for potential performance issues. Seen it a million times. Far from feeling cringe about it, this gives the OP a serotonin boost.

Show quote history

Sadly enough I agree with you. I think there is a small minority of people out there, who act pleasant on the outside, but inside they don’t want you to have anything, and if they think you are getting something , even when it’s minor like this, they try to stop it.

Pretend to find a way why they feel that way, to justify it, but behind their eyes they are looking at people and thinking how to hurt them and take something off them.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 15/04/2023 23:06

This thread is depressing. "Snitches get stitches". Do you think you are one of the Krays?

As many people have said electric scooters are only legal on public land as part of the trial.

So, if one of the illegal, probably uninsured vehicles hits you, and leaves you with life changing injuries you'd be happy with that?

And, as other posters have said, a fire with an li ion battery is extraordinarily difficult to put out. Possibly invalidating insurance.

"Office fire kills hundreds"

But that's ok so long as no one snitches.

StepAwayFromTheBiscuitJar · 15/04/2023 23:54

VeniVidiWeeWee · 15/04/2023 23:06

This thread is depressing. "Snitches get stitches". Do you think you are one of the Krays?

As many people have said electric scooters are only legal on public land as part of the trial.

So, if one of the illegal, probably uninsured vehicles hits you, and leaves you with life changing injuries you'd be happy with that?

And, as other posters have said, a fire with an li ion battery is extraordinarily difficult to put out. Possibly invalidating insurance.

"Office fire kills hundreds"

But that's ok so long as no one snitches.

Dramatic much.

"Office fire kills hundreds" 🤭

Tessabelle74 · 16/04/2023 09:03

Simple answe, get your own scooter! Oh and they cost pennies to charge so there's that. You clearly want to snitch, you just came here to justify it by asking our opinion, and we gave it. YABU

Devoutspoken · 16/04/2023 09:23

Venividi, the liklihood is, one is more likely to be hit (and killed) by a car, uninsured or not

Dbank · 16/04/2023 09:39
  1. Presumably this is a privately owned scooter in the UK, being used on the public roads, so being used illegally and un-insured.
  2. E-scooters aren't a green as you may think, the materials are often sourced with huge damage to the environment.
  3. It's nonsense to claim an e-scooter is environmentally friendly while the majority of our electricity is derived from fossil fuels.
  4. Have you calculated what the actual cost of a single charge is, perhaps it would be fair to ask them to pay for it?
poetryandwine · 16/04/2023 10:15

@Dbank it has been said repeatedly here that the cost of a single charge is between 15 and 30p. Others are using that daily in loo paper, hot water, tap (drinking) water, possible use of the fridge, etc, even in the meanest office

7eleven · 16/04/2023 10:16

It’s not for the OP to ask anyone to pay anything. People need to get a life and mind their own business. Goodness me.

Blinkingheckythump · 16/04/2023 10:17

Whatt · 14/04/2023 12:36

Wow, I think I might be guilty of BU . I never realized how affordable it is to charge an electric scooter!

However, I still have concerns. If everyone starts charging their scooters, won't the cost go up? And where will we find the space to charge them all? Those things are pretty bulky, and our staff room is already on the small side.
I don't think management has caught wind of this yet, since they never venture into our humble abode.

But with the way they're cutting back, I'd rather have a well-stocked refreshment corner than a scooter garage. After all, it's tough times out here, and we all need a little pick-me-up.

Jaysus how selfish do you want to be?!

Lollipop81 · 16/04/2023 10:17

Thank god I don’t work with you

Callyem · 16/04/2023 12:19

Just wow!

Long term reader, this is the first time I've felt compelled to post. Well done.

OliveToboogie · 16/04/2023 12:24

I presume he is charging Lithium batteries. My partner did the same. Batteries exploded within seconds his bedroom was an inferno. He had 60% burns and was in the Burns Unit for 6 months with catastrophic burns. His mum died in fire and his dad died 10 weeks later.

Fire Brigade said 70% of fires they deal with are lithium batteries. He could end up causing a horrific fire at your place of work.

Devoutspoken · 16/04/2023 13:00

Cars are pretty lethal too

Ibizamumof4 · 16/04/2023 22:15

Wow I really wouldn’t care , good on your colleague saving herself money and being environmentally savvy

hoophoophooray · 16/04/2023 22:55

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WOwhah8AifU

This is an e-scooter going into thermal runaway and then exploding. Couldn't give a rats ass about the cost of the electricity, but this is why I wouldn't want one charging inside

Electric Scooter Explodes during Charging

A video recently appeared online showed one Chinese family's electric scooter exploded while being charged at home. The video, shot by the family's surveilla...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WOwhah8AifU

Tillie12 · 17/04/2023 06:37

😂😂😂😂 to the slow cooker

Dinosaurus123 · 17/04/2023 11:05

I'd be more concerned about him charging his electric scooter indoors, I just watched a programme on bbc1 about ebike lithium batteries exploding and catching alight and how they should never be charged in the house or near an exit 🤯

Dinosaurus123 · 17/04/2023 11:06

Oh exactly what I was talking about! Just watched this on bbc1 very scary!

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 17/04/2023 11:35

Ibizamumof4 · 16/04/2023 22:15

Wow I really wouldn’t care , good on your colleague saving herself money and being environmentally savvy

It depends on what the alternative is whether it’s environmentally savvy. Compared to the car it’s good but if the alternative is walking then it’s worse for the environment

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 17/04/2023 11:37

Dinosaurus123 · 17/04/2023 11:05

I'd be more concerned about him charging his electric scooter indoors, I just watched a programme on bbc1 about ebike lithium batteries exploding and catching alight and how they should never be charged in the house or near an exit 🤯

We had to evacuate at my work due to one starting smoking that was being charged at someone’s desk. no one was hurt but part of the office was unavailable for a couple of days due to the smell/after effect.

Soubriquet · 17/04/2023 11:48

Had to check the date there and make sure you wasn’t talking about me!!

When I worked at my last job, I used an electric scooter. I would have to charge it at work so it had enough charge to get me home again.

It took my half an hour to get to work so no short feat

IcedPurple · 17/04/2023 12:15

Domino20 · 14/04/2023 00:13

You clearly do want to be a snitch.

Yes. They just don't want 'to be seen as a snitch', which is not quite the same thing.

hannonle · 17/04/2023 21:22

Having watched a clip of one exploding in a matter of seconds this morning on the news, I'd be more concerned about fire safety than electricity costs...

fancydressjess · 18/04/2023 11:55

So basically you've done the maths and worked out your colleague owes you some biscuits and softer toilet roll?!?!
Seems legit 🤔

Seriously, don't terrorise yourself into feeling scarcity around these changes. It's natural to feel like we want to regain control when something is taken from us... So find a source of spectacular bargain bottled water, posh biscuits or whatever it is you need to feel good to stock up on the cheap in your pantry, and ensure you have what you need at work. You are worth it.