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?

It’s not that deep

This is the Receptionist

lol I was just thinking that if someone had posted they witnessed this, early onset dementia would be definitely be suggested 🤣

is that because you deem your job more important than mine?

I think HT will be fine with it given the context

I would have done the same.

Excellent 😁

....of 1976.

Why not?

Oh, you think it's a reverse?

But you must still have felt considerable vindictiveness towards this woman for it even to have occurred to you to get out your sharpie— it just seems odd to me that you didn’t feel you’d already dealt with it adequately.

It’s the act of a powerless person ‘sticking it to the man’, rather than someone who reported unprofessional behaviour, and saw it dealt with.

Serves her right . As long as you’re definitely sure there’s no cameras, nothing will happen. Relax.

@Stick0rTwist. This kind of bullying does upset me. I don’t like the revenge threads on MN. I lost sleep over the poster who rejoiced in putting next door’s dog in her car and driving twenty miles away before releasing it. I hope I always try and go ‘high’.
However, if this were true, someone at the school will no doubt read this, which would confirm suspicions. There are enough clues in the OP’s posts.
You are a bully, @Saracopp

Completely agree with you @WinterAfternoons.

I don’t know what your job is. I am guessing it involves delivering some kind of training to schools, but ofc I have no idea as you have not said. I work in a challenging senior role, where there is a lot of stress, and high professional standards to maintain, and yes, it’s considered important by many.

I also value my career and would not want to risk it, because I could not control my behaviour. I assume yours is not a professional role as you would not want to risk breaching any professional standards.

You're sure there's no cameras? It's a reception area in a school. Of course there are.

I didn’t feel any of that in the moment and yes it had already been dealt with. I don’t see how it’s got anything to do with being a powerless act. I was on my way out knowing full well I would never return and noticed the photos in the foyer. I hadn’t noticed them before and saw an opportunity. This was no depth of thinking at all

I doubt it You defaced school property and behaved in an unprofessional manner. A schoolkid would be rightly punished for doing that.

There are cameras but it’s a little around the corner so a blind spot.

I disagree

Sounds like a day at St Trinians.

I hope you let us know if anything came of it.

You’re welcome to think what you like. I think it’s safe to say that I know a bit more about this situation than you do though

A blind spot? At a school reception desk where comings and goings have to be monitored?
Ok.

Yes, roughly that time era as well.

I’m afraid I laughed. I used to work with someone who was rude and unpleasant to women, particularly those junior to him. He also had a very high opinion of himself and was a big fan of fake tan. One day someone stuck a paint chart of shades of orange on the notice board, with the question, “Which shade is Anthony rocking today?” It caused great amusement, but disappeared after a few days. Some weeks later, when he was back from holiday, a brown paint chart appeared on the notice board. No comment, just a paint chart.