Other People Using My Desk

[MediatorMom]

As I repeat this over and over in my mind, it sounds ridiculous... With that being said, AIBU to be upset, teetering on angry, that someone comes to the office and works at my desk? I am a leadership development educator and coach - so I'm not always in the office. Now, "they" come in and change all of my settings on my computer monitors and chair and never put anything back to my settings and they leave a small mess on my desk - my area does not have cameras. I've left a note on my keyboard saying "Welcome and Hello Guest - If you are here borrowing a desk, please leave everything the same as you found it. Please do not change settings on monitors or chairs. Thank you and have a wonderful day."
My note obviously gets ignored.
So, AIBU?

OP completely missed this one… it was not lost on me 😂😂😂

If you are not in and using your desk you are being a bit over possessive, it may be your spot when you are in, but it belongs to your workplace not you.

YABU to expect them to put everything back how it was, just readjust your seat or whatever back when you get in. It's not the Sistine Chapel it's a desk, you'll survive.

YANBU to expect them not to leave a mess (assuming you mean coffee cups, rubbish etc that should go in bin). Could you ask a colleague who uses your desk when you are not in, surely if it is often someone will know who sits there, and ask them face to face just to remove their rubbish.

Polite!😂. Reminds me of working in an office 35 years ago and my colleague coming back from lunch to find not only had someone been sitting in his chair, but they had used his pens(yes he was a touch anal, not ocd). He was very angry, “what FUCKER has been in my seat!” But being in open plan office shared with another team, with his “mates”, much laddish shenanigans ensued over the following weeks. Just things moved an inch or two, “borrowing” stuff and returning it when he was at the loo.

Please do not change settings on monitors or chairs.

Technically a full desk assessment should be done when you sit at a new desk.

I know this is your desk, and not a hot desk.

I have a note asking whoever to please leave my chair and use another. It's easier because I have a special chair due to back issues. Always have to find someone to come and put my monitors back to titch settings.
It is what it is.

How long does it take to adjust a chair really? And regarding the settings on your computer if you are admin just make seating accessible to admin only.

That's an appalling attitude to have

OP, you only have to answer the same (albeit repeated 😂) question only once!

This drives me more insane than it rationally should 😡. If I am away whoever sits at my desk unplugs all the monitors, changes the settings on my chair and leaves my desk in a total mess.
I find it so annoying

I would just take some of the wires home - they may find spares they can use but just make it an inconvenient as possible for them to use it.

Failing that, chain your chair to the desk. I may or may not have done this before 🤭

I have my own desk in my own office but I always make it clear that other people can use it when I’m not around as it is a work desk. I don’t really see how much they can change at a desk really. They log into my computer and sometimes change the chair settings. It is a bit much to expect them to memorise your chair settings and change them back.

I understand that it is difficult for you but it sounds like you are the issue, not them. I also don’t see why you don’t know who uses your desk. Are your colleagues unable to tell you?

Not unreasonable purely because they leave a mess.

People use my desk if I am off (usually those visiting from another location). It my desk not a hot desk.
I don't mind as long as it's not left in a mess. Moving screens and chair setting is annoying but reasonable if someone else is working there all day.

Your note comes across as a bit rude and kind of like telling them they shouldn't be there.

Those people who think it’s not a big deal to change seat and monitor settings back… are you young and needing fairly basic settings?

Some of us take a while to get a chair to a comfortable position. I accidentally moved my car seat, and still haven’t got it back to exactly how I like it.
Monitors can be similar. I would be pissed off if I had to redo the screen settings every time. What a waste of time.

OP does the computer not have different logins for different users? Could you get IT support to set it up so it’s a straight forward way to get to your preferred settings.

Maybe you could put a fake spill/stain/sticky patch on your chair to make it look unappealing…

I don't think you are being unreasonable. I used to be a peripatetic worker at one stage because I used to go to various staff group meetings and do presentations. I did used to use other people's desks and computers to check emails and so on if I wasn't going back to my own base because there were no hot desks but I never did it without asking the local manager and never left any trace that I had been there. I am not saying nobody should use your desk, although that would be ideal, but they certainly shouldn't leave evidence that they have done so, apart from maybe not showing your details on the login screen when you turn it on.

Most monitors I've used allow you to lock the display settings via the OSD. For example, on my old Dell monitor you just pressed the "menu" button for 15 secs. Might be enough to put someone off changing them. I was able to set a PIN on a recent HP monitor.

Regarding chair settings, I once had the problem of people using my chair and changing the settings. On this particular chair it was possible to remove the adjusting handles using an allen key and screwdriver. Extreme maybe, but it worked

This. I get my car collected and returned when it needs service and MOT. I know its unavoidable but the driver naturally has to reset the seat and its the devil to get it back how I like it.

If I needed to use someone else’s desk, I’d leave the chair and settings as is and just manage.

reorganising someone else’s workspace is incredibly rude.

Thank you all for your thoughts and advice. Can definitely tell we are from different generations and have our own ways of thinking.

As some of you suggested, I spoke with my supervisor and they are putting a new door handle on with a lock.

I appreciate all of your insights.
Have a great weekend 🏵