AIBU - only one without a desk

[Nurse1980]

Hi,

I recently returned to work following an episode of sickness.

We all had our own desk in the office (including myself). I’ve come back, and a six month temporary member of staff is now at the desk that was mine.

So Im having to use a laptop and sit at a filing cabinet, as I’ve no desk. I’m also disadvantaged as our job is much easier with two screens (all desks have two screens).

I’ve brought it up with my manager and was told that she was working on it.

I’m not sure if I’m overreacting (been off with stress and PTSD) and just finished my phased return. So I’m more sensitive than normal perhaps?

I would 100% believe this yes. Never experienced bullying and rule flouting like it in my life whilst working (very short term) for the NHS. Calling across the waiting room to someone asking about their sister who’d been in the week before, the gossiping, slagging off patients etc. Best thing I did was leave that place. I also reported it but it seemed they thought I was the nuisance as was someone who had been there years and they apparently couldn’t do without her

All desks are standing desks? Wow.

Public sector doesn't have resources like that.
I seem to remember that in late 2021 we got a training video on setting up home environment to avoid RSI-back ache risk. Or maybe it was early 2022.

I could add a lot of details, either my jobs or a close friend in last 4 years: anecdotes about NHS & civil service (get one laptop & charger, nothing else ), county council (best equipped, had own dock stations at home, even! before 2020), universities (staff buy & use their own laptops / desktops a lot, likely no employer-provided equipment at all for WFH) etc.

Go in to work early and take photos of all desks and your 'workstation' so you have evidence of a clear discrepancy.

From memory DSE regulations may suggest that you should not be working at a laptop without a screen and keyboard

NHS here, I'd speak to the union. I've never had much success with occ. health and trying to find someone in HR is near on impossible.

I've found the union to be the best route and the one that listens.

Sorry about the desk situation, that is unfair.

Hello

I didn't want to read and run. I think I may have an idea of which part of the NHS you work for as you mentioned working with 2 screens. If I'm correct then they have a DSE department so definitely get in touch with them.

I returned to work following stress/PTSD within the NHS and if the same thing happened to me that would of completely triggered me. I know the NHS sickness policy is quite strict but if this is causing you undue stress then speak with your GP about signing you off again but have them make it clear that it is work related stree- work related episodes of sickness can not be used as trigger points within the NHS sickness policy (double check your own trusts policy but generally the NHS policies are the same throughout). They will then have to get it sorted in order to get you back to work. Please don't work in an environment that is going to bring your MH back down. Good luck and please keep us posted if you can.

Its also the big things... occupational health and wellbeing matter. If you're using a computer for work it needs to be at a proper workstation with the chair, desk, screen and input devices all set up ergonomically to prevent injuries.

No surprise at all it’s the NHS. One of my friends had to sit on a pipe with her laptop as no desk.

Aside from the physical practicalities of not having the right equipment to do your job, you'd think after a period off with stress they would want to make it as easy as possible for you mentally to come back. And this isn't it!

Not everyone can work from home!

This.

It's ridiculous not having a desk. You could end up with severe back, neck and shoulder problems - point this out to them. Are you not already feeling physical aches and pains related to this at the end of the day? Short term, you will recover, but long term they can become permanents and lead to severe disability

Are you in a union?

I doubt it , such is very common in remote and mobile workers if not ideal. What is required is a risk assessment of each workstation, often done by the individual, so that screen, desk, chair etc are at an appropriate height to avoid back and neck strain and lighting is adequate. Op could submit one demonstrating that it does not comply.

I can sympathise - as I had this done to me one time. I was pretty darn aware they were trying to get rid of me anyway - and it was just one of the things they did to try and make me "resign of my own free will" (apparently). As I recall - I just had to be very firm in my attitude - that I needed a desk of my own again/was used to having one/everyone else had one. What they did with me was put me at a succession of temporary desks (eg if someone was ill or something). As far as I recall - what got me back to having a desk of my own again was being very "firm" of making it plain I had long-term plans to stay in my job (ie was keeping my job till retirement - which I did), adjusting whatever was the latest "temporary" desk I was at to suit my own "health and safety" requirements (obviously that would put pressure on the real "owner" of that desk to put pressure on management that they didn't like their desk being constantly altered by me to suit me). I think it was basically the "health and safety" angle I played on as I recall and "Everyone else has a desk....I normally have a desk....why havent I got one?". Probably best for you to ask for a health and safety assessment - that should put pressure on them. Definitely make it very plain, in every way you can, that you ARE keeping the job however long you decide you will (ie you would be telling them in effect "It ain't no good you trying to make my life uncomfortable - I'm onto you - and it ain't happening" is the overall message you will be conveying.

I wouldn’t take the desk the temp is sitting at, I’d take the bosses and tell them to work on the filing cabinet if it’s so acceptable.

Another point - given that it sounds as if they are trying to get you to "resign of your own free will (apparently)" and that IS a public sector trick. Be prepared for them to try other things to also try pushing you. One thing that comes to mind is the "gossip machine" - there's always one or two that will gossip or bully if it's hinted at them that that is what management would like. One deliberate "gossip" was fat and pretty toothless and so I would pretend not to hear her accidentally-on-purpose gossiping about me loud enough for me to hear as I walked past and then later pointedly look at her figure up and down and her teeth very analytically (I was slim and have decent teeth). Another one would bully me by taking up a bit of workspace that was mine to use or accidentally on purpose walking towards me and accidentally brushing hard against me - and I had to find ways to deal with her too. Another one would put say a wastebin in my way on the floor (hoping I'd trip on it) and various other little bits and bobs (I went to higher management about him - and she told him to stop it). So be aware of nastier/more stupid members of staff that that particular manager may try and trigger against you and be ready to deal with them as well. Also there were times when I had to go to a higher management person when my own line manager was doing personal bullying (eg restricting me in ways that another member of staff on her team wasnt restricted - and the higher management person agreed with me and told her to stop it).

I work from a laptop with a monitor attached as my second screen, could this work for you? I have my screens above and below one another.

This is terrible. So the manager at the time knew and they did not do a thing? They knew how difficult it must have been and still made it happen? There are loads of terrible people around and they are one. they should be feeling humiliated and I would have told them so.

I think this has been done deliberately to make it uncomfortable for you at work and prompt you to leave.

This is a health and safety issue. Ergonomics. Talk to HR.
First ask them to conduct a menadatory health and safety assessment immediately. So it’s on record . Id be giving them a deadline of 48 hours to get your desk to sit at ANYWHERE in the company as a temporary measure- even the bloody HR office. Someone can go out to an office supplier and pick up a cheap office table, jeez I bought one in IKEA for £6o recently.
if they don’t comply within 48 hours raise a grievance.

law is
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg57.htm

The Manager said that she was working on it.
Have you given her a few days to sort it? It might be hard to source an appropriate desk and screens.
Just do your best (you can do no better than that) and ask every few days. Move your file and screen to a nice position near a window.
After about two weeks I would be asking the Manager if it would help for you to talk directly with HR.

This is excellent advice.

H&S is definitely the only route to go if our manager isn't helping.

And it's a genuine route, too - your long-term health could be seriously affected.

If it continues, an you are forced to leave, you could go down the constructive dismissal route. But get EVERYTHING documented.

If you have returned from sickness and now don't have the same equipment as everyone else, then surely that is discrimination? It is hardly likely to help you manage your stress.

Even with a laptop they can provide a wireless mouse and keyboard for starters.

Take it up with HR if your manager won't do anything, but it sounds extremely unfair.

How long would the H&SE ringing authorities contacting the union etc. take? I'm guessing that those complaint processes take MONTHS to play out.

Not sure OP has said how long she is back at work, but also says she is new to the Trust (so probably new to this admin team and not clear how much notice they had that she was turning up), that a desk has been procured now.

Yes she knew. She was a weak manager and would never have stood up for her team.

I was a diligent worker and perhaps they knew (before I did) that a young baby meant less likelihood of staying late which was the norm in that dept.

It’s hard to be the person targeted as it’s embarrassing when everyone else knows and can see what’s happening.

In the same dept. somebody was later told to work in the corridor as there wasn’t room for her desk in the main office. They actually put her working in the corridor outside the door. The poor woman ended up in tears and had a breakdown.

It was full of mini managers who were promoted because they were the type of people who let ‘power’ go to their heads and got satisfaction from treating people appallingly or were weak - the common factor was both types were happy to act as puppets having their strings pulled by the puppet masters (higher Mgt). The place attracted a certain personality and in the end anyone who had any principles left.