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 it’s always so much fun when an OP makes Mumsnetters lose their tiny minds and refuses to cower. Keep going, OP!

I’d go back to collect something and remove it with nail polish remover

Did you, aye?

😂😂😂
She won't be let in to reception again...

OP is self employed. She's not going to lose her job.

It’s what school kids do, draw Hitler moustaches and horns on Florence Nightingale or Cromwell in their textbooks because they’re not in a position to say ‘Look, I’m bored and hostile’.

Er ..you berated her for her lack of social skills then went and defaced her picture for a laugh 🤦🏻‍♀️

To be fair, I have been visiting some schools for 15 years and don't have a fob. I am a visitor, an external consultant , not a member of staff.

Yes, could easily have left it at that. Taking this next step brings it into workplace bullying territory.

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?

This from the OP doesn't exactly chime with the many, many following posts justifying it, saying that there will be no repercussions and that it 'had to be done' really, does it?

After she'd been dealt with by SLT and in a situation where she would be identified.

What jurisdiction do HR have over freelancers?

Yes, that's fine, I just think some schools obviously prefer to sign and date people in and out manually.

I don’t think the school will spend too much headspace on tracking down who did it. I’m sure they’ll have bigger stuff to focus their time on, and I can’t imagine this isn’t the first time a picture of a teacher has been defaced by maybe a pupil etc. Maybe a positive will come out of it and the person will reflect on how they come across and be a better person for it ….🤷‍♀️

Woke up and realised this is still going! I don’t think it’s funny or silly OP, I think it’s really odd behaviour by you.

I can’t fathom why you’d bother doing this to someone when their behaviour has already been complained about and dealt with. You presumably have no idea what’s going on this woman’s life and I feel for her having to come into work and be humiliated by finding her professional photo defaced like that. Assume the pupils will see it as well which may make her job harder. Also, once again, drawing a moustache etc - it’s not even funny.

It’s a large area

Were you bullied as a child?

I think you have some issues from childhood (as do some other posters).

This isn’t a rational response that an adult would do.
Even in a secondary school this would be seen as immature.

You would definitely agree that this is childish and completely inappropriate - so I wonder if this is how you got back at your bullies in your past and if somehow you momentarily reverted back into a child.

It’s funny for me and you’re right, you never know what’s going on in someone’s life yet she persistently treated me badly, and made me late every week

That’s the same with me. I’ve worked with around 20 different schools over the last 25 years and I’ve only ever had a fob for two of my schools. I’m a consultant, not a member of staff, so have never expected to be given a pass.

Unfortunately they will blame a child and that child will get into trouble for something they didn’t do and no one’s going to believe that it was actually a staff member.

It’s not that deep, we can all be spontaneous at times and react in a manner which we wouldn’t normally react.

I’m sure they’ll know it was me, a child won’t get blamed

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I actually didn’t consider this. You’re right and that’s awful.

OP, you have no way of knowing who will be blamed for this-I would be horrified if any of the children were going to be blamed for this.