Did something a bit silly at work

[Saracopp]

I regularly visit schools for my job. One school had to change premises to a larger school site whilst building works were being undertaken on the original school building.

The support staff of the new building were unpleasant and unfriendly- possibly because they didn’t want to share their building with another school.

Each week for the past nine months or so I’ve experienced unpleasantness with one particular member of staff on the front desk. Things like deliberately keeping me waiting to let me in and out of the building (she would pretend she wasn’t in the office, but I could see her in the reflection of one of the windows, she thought she was out of sight), abrupt manner, unhelpful, not passing on messages, rolling eyes because she has to get out of her chair to press a button to release the door, huffing because my mere presence is an inconvenience etc, you get the picture.

A couple of weeks ago we had a slight altercation, she was scowling as usual as I arrived and I asked her if everything was ok as she seemed quite unhappy to see me. She immediately became defensive and gave me a right mouthful so I calmly told her she maybe should develop some social skills given she was on the front desk 😳

I spoke to the head teacher of ‘my school’ who said she’d deal with it. Miraculously, over the next couple of weeks the doors were unlocked and she was not in the office as I walked passed. Result

Today was my last day as the school are moving back to their original premises after half term and I did something a little immature. In the foyer at the entrance is a photograph of all the school staff and their names, there was no-one around. Without thinking I got out my sharpie and drew a moustache and angry eyebrows on the picture of this person. Under her name I wrote ‘Miss Funsucker’. I did chuckle about it for the rest of the day but now I feel a bit bad and anxious I will get into trouble- it wouldn’t take Sherlock Holmes to work out it was me 😬

should I do nothing or should I do something - if so what? I know it’s a long shot but has anyone else done this?

Oh no…one of ‘I’m mad, me!’ shower…

I have very high standards, however it was a moment of weakness. You’re right, you never know what’s going on in someone’s life, but surely that should work both ways? I endured 9 months of unwarranted shitty attitude, yet every week, smiled and was friendly.

my kindness did vanish in the end, but everyone does get to that point eventually. My life hasn’t been a walk in the park lately, but I remained professional and happy in the workplace up until yesterday.

I’m neither childish or unhinged. Anyone who knows me would never imagine I would behave like that. I don’t think I’m hilarious but I do have a good sense of humour and don’t take life too seriously.

Private SALT, OT, Ed Psych? If she is I’m not surprised she has more work than she can take on. Have a similar role and you meet some right unfriendly people in school’s sometimes. Luckily you meet many amazing ones too.

I can understand the temptation but I wouldn’t risk my professional reputation for a moment of silliness. Despite also having the luxury of turning work away.

I think the 9 months of being unfriendly, rude and making me late by hiding in the office is nastier

And there is no way that OP has a senior professional role. At most, she is delivering some tick-box mandatory training. Nobody in a senior public sector role in their fifties would be flouting rules regarding governance, professionalism and behaviour, unless they had a job without responsibility, or I guess some kind of mental breakdown perhaps.

I’m not embarrassed. Looked at me in a mean way? What on earth are you talking about? You should be embarrassed posting comments which show your clear lack of comprehension

A person who isn't trusted with a key fob, and needs no references? Strange story.

Incorrect, silly response. I am not having a breakdown, far from it. I feel the best I have felt in a long time

Well I think it’s funny! And she deserved it. I’d be worried about getting found out but they can’t prove it was you if you say there aren’t cameras there. They don’t even know it was drawn while you were in the building. Anyone could have done it. I’ll bet you’re not the only one she’s “off” with so how can they know for sure it was you. Deny all knowledge. But yeah, don’t do that again!

You might get a fob once signed in but not one to keep as a regular visitor. I can visit up to 9 schools in a week I can’t have a fob for every one!

So, who were you late for? When those people complained, why didn't you explain? That person could have been dealt with by the office manager or business manager.
Why do something which will impact your job?

Again no understanding. You do realise not having a key fob is nothing to do with trust? It’s called lack of resources and there simply not being one available. I am ‘trusted’ with a key fob in other schools because there is a spare one for me to have.
The strange one is you

Ok, but she was there for months? She'll have to be DBS checked, so our school would allocate a fob to scan in and out for something more than a couple of weeks.
She'll have had to sign out as well.

Think what you like 👍

You had an altercation with another employee because she "scowled at you". Then you told on her. It's embarrassing.

No, the strange one is very much you. A fob to scan in and out with is nothing to do with "resources". It's to do with security. You must have been DBS checked? Yet they never arranged an electronic method to scan you in and out?
You were late all the time and yet no-one ever complained and you literally did nothing about it?
Very, very strange.

Having had a mental breakdown might be OPs best response if confronted with this if it did happen. I can’t think of any way this wouldn’t affect offers of work if the word got round. Do you not have competitors for whatever it is you do?

Don't worry, she "doesn't need a reference".

As I said you obviously haven’t read or understood the content of my posts, I couldn’t care less about scowling. A lot of people scowl and are miserable

Well, sometimes it’s good to grow old disgracefully. 😉

And at least you only called her a ‘funsucker’ - it could have been a whole lot worse 😳😂

I want to find this funny. But I do think what you’ve done to the woman is publicly humiliating which crosses a line for me. Everyone will see it and talk about it and that could have serious consequences for the woman. Don’t get me wrong, she sounds like a horrible individual. But in this case the end may not justify the means,