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?

There are individuals with strong intellect but very low emotional intelligence. Most professional jobs require social interaction and collaboration with others. Fulfilling this is difficult with low EI and these individuals are aware that they’re putting on a mask, hitting the wrong note and unable to form real connections with others. Cognitively unable to reflect and improve their behaviour, they shore up their self esteem by donning superiority but they are unable to self regulate, over react to small or imaginary slights and will often focus on revenge scenarios disproportionate to the real offence.

if challenged, they don’t defend the actual events but go on the personal attack - don’t be daft, it’s not that deep etc etc.

They overdose on unnecessary self aggrandise at any opportunity - I’m a good person, genuine etc etc

They are petty and exhausting but truly fragile individuals.

There are many different types of freelance workers in most schools in my area. I have reduced the number of schools I work for now that I’m past retirement age and those schools do require me to have a DBS check; however several other schools did not, largely because 99% of my role doesnt involve contact with children; on the very rare occasions that I come into contact with children, their parents or the head would be present. In my case, Im in an essential role where there are very few experienced people available, and those of us who are reasonably competent are in great demand. The cost doesn’t really come into it - I charge around the same amount as the local authority but provide a much better service.

Funsucker, really in a school of all places. Too much like the F word. Likely to be picked up. The HT had dealt with it and this probably involved some kind of a reprimand. I agree you sound immature and ridiculous.

A nasty thing to do and quite cowardly.

Oh come on. Yes it was childish but imagine if OP had kept a log of each visit and the exact nature of the receptionist's attitude. Then handed it in to the employer?

She complained, the receptionist was dealt with.

🤦‍♀️

I don't mean a straightforward ccomplaint.
Each and every trangression noted - date, time etc.
She would have sacked.

I'm not sure why she wasn't as proactive as that. Anyway the person was disciplined, but I agree, she ought to have been far more assertive.

If any of it had ever happened! But it didn't, it is made up.

Made me chuckle too 🤣. And I’ve done something very similar some years ago. I was visiting my friend in hospital and one of the HCA’s was challenging for want of a better word. She used to twist facts about patients and the doctors then had to intervene thinking their recovery wasn’t going as it should…….it was a stroke ward. My friend regularly got the third degree for allegedly saying stuff that wasn’t true and turns out the HCA was fabricating fact and making patients look bad.
At the entrance to the ward was a poster with the staff pictures on and I wrote ‘liar, liar, yer bums on fire’ over her photo! childish I know ……..but the lying stopped!

, what you ARE is more important and you have shown yourself to be a spiteful little bully
'hey everybody, look at me look at me!! I made a complaint which was apparently addressed, but really didn't acknowledge the fact of my importance so I have to carry this on until you all know how very important I am!'

Sorry, but this is how this action came across to me

@Saracopp What has made you change from anxious to not anxious about it? I find my anxiety about something grows rather than dissipates, until I know the outcome.

Not even close

I've noticed, Margo, that you've posted this a few times, and she's never contradicted you.
ps I love your user name!

Let's hope the NEU or Unison as support staff, can save your job, and you've paid off your mortgage.
This is the annoying thing- you had your victory by speaking to the HT who sorted it for you, and then you did an Odysseus moment of hubris (it wasn't Nobody who blinded you....)

When they go low, we go high.

You'd dealt with the situation then decided to put the boot in in a really nasty way. We don't know what others are going through. Poor behaviour from you, especially as the issue was resolved.

And your comebacks on this thread show you don't care/think it's funny and are just seeking validation.

I'm just trying to guess OP's job now. Freelance, doesn't need references, works in schools, probably not teaching per se, must be quite niche or not many people do it, needs to be buzzed in so not on site a lot, strong sense of visual humour...

Clown therapy.
Or therapeutic and social clowning as think the specialism prefers to be called.

Am I close, OP?

this comment is pathetic. you should be ashamed of yourself.

Surely this isn't real but on the off chance it is. You have graffiti'd a clients property. Schools talk to one another. You have damaged your reputation. Whether you believe this behaviour is a normal way to behave in the work place is irrelevant, your behaviour was unhinged. Everyone will know this was you so the best thing you could do would be to apologise and claim you were having some sort of mental health crisis (and investigate if you actually are). Obviously offer to pay for a replacement picture as the picture will need replacing at a cost to the school.

@FleurDeFleur I've noticed that these stories crop up from time to time, always from a poster who has never posted before. Some slightly improbable passive aggressive 'jape' type anecdote with a question at the end to try and encourage other posters to fess up their passive aggressive unpleasantness too!

Yes, indeed. Well observed. I'm always more aware when it's school centred because I've been a teacher for decades and usually the stories attract my attention, for the wrong reasons!

The OPs anxiety seems to have dissipated incredibly quickly after her first post, judging by those she made mere minutes later.

Well done OP! We have all wanted to get revenge on a petty Hitler at some point in our lives & this was such a childish action from a professional that it's incredibly funny. It's a pity that so many of the other contributors on this thread have had a sense of humour failure.

I am always surprised at how often I encounter rude receptionists in schools (I also visit a lot of schools). They are literally the first person you encounter, the face of the school in many ways, and they are
often objectionable. How they remain employed is beyond me - I can only assume they present a different demeanour to the head teacher etc.