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 had this in the NHS when my desk was given to a new consultant. The current consultant refused to share his office.

I was told to hotdesk. I pointed out that hot desking only works if there are free desks and everyone is doing it.

I ended up resigning because of this and other similar reasons.

@Emotionalsupportviper - I forgot to say that we do not have allocated desks and sit wherever there is space. It really is hot desking. I was really responding to the poster who said that the public sector don't have resources to hotdesk - just to give an example of one organisation that does.

As for the OP's situation - appalling and needs escalating to grandparent managers, HSW rep and Union.,

Good luck. I would definitely be reaching out to your union. This sounds like bullying.

I suspect they are trying to make you quit @Lovetoridemybicycle

That was my first thought too. They are trying to push you out Op.
Contact HR and H&S.

What you have is not hotdesking its an unsuitable work environment. Causing you more stress, hindering you from working properly and causing physical pain and discomfort.

Assuming they have followed their stress policy and sickness policy. Assume you have been to Oh and also had a stress risk assessment.

talk to your union (assuming you’re a member) because this could be considered bullying and harassment

I don’t normally comment here but this post has me really exorcised. In addition to the occupational H&S risk, there are many more problems with this treatment. You were off with stress / PTSD so this could be disability discrimination. Under your employment contract you are entitled to have the equipment you need to do your job. If this is all deliberate, you would have a strong constructive dismissal claim and poss disability discrimination claim. I would raise a grievance immediately.

Read up on constructive dismissal. Sounds like they are trying to push you out

Sounds like they are trying to punish you

Hi, thought I would update you all.

I spoke to my manager and I now have my desk and computer back. She and the temporary member of staff are going to share a desk.

Thank you for all of your advice.

Well, there's a turn up,for the books

Well done!

Excellent news, OP. What did you say, seems to have jogged them into action.

Thats good news, are you happy with this?

I explained how it had made me feel and went into bits from this thread.

Yes I feel so much better now. Thank you.

I also wonder about bullying. Are some of your colleagues annoyed with your taking leave and trying to punish you? Be on the lookout for more of that. I’m happy you now have a desk.

I completely understand how you felt - I had a similar situation in the NHS. Some people didn't get why I was so upset about it but it got to a point where I was going to refuse to work until something was sorted out. IMO it's not acceptable to expect someone who works full-time at a computer to not have a suitable space. Well done on sorting it out!

@Nurse1980 That’s a great update and hopefully now things are resolved, but do keep a record because sometimes people comply to keep the right side of employment law, but then something else occurs a few weeks or months down the line. Hopefully this will not be the case for you.

That is great news, Op.

Great update, well done, but I feel really dubious about their attitude. I would still want this recorded in case of future problems.

Yes, I appreciate that, but hot-desking relies on there being enough desks for everyone, whereas in OP's department they were a desk short, which meant that OP had to use a filing cabinet as a"desk".

It's fair enough not having an allocated desk (usually in places where people work in shifts, so having your own desk is impractical), but not for one person to be left without any desk at all.

My company actually hot desks (with most people WFH at least 3 or 4 days a week).

We have an app. You book the desk on it and it’s your desk that day. The app shows which desks are variable height and there is a stock of foot rests. We also have a locker each for all our stuff.

It’s not a race to get there first and the loser gets the crappy equipment. If you can’t get a desk (never happened so far to me), you just go in another day.

Which is how hot-desking ought to work - but in OP's office, there were not enough desks. There was one short.

They also weren’t hot desking - everyone seems to have had a set desk (with the OP being asked to move when she sat at one).

I was agreeing with the other posters not trying to suggest that was was happening to the OP was either a. reasonable or b. hot desking at all.