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?

Why would the OP need union support? As she has said repeatedly, she is a freelancer and will never be going to the school in question again. it’s highly unlikely, given her description of the location of the board, that it can be proven she was the one who drew on the photo, and even if she was captured by the non existent security cameras, what would anyone do about it? Funnily enough, many people working in schools have a sense of humour.

I wouldn't worry.

I know someone who did similar to a grumpy bugger in their office. They're one of the most powerful people in British retail. Everyone found it funny

Of course she wouldn’t have been sacked!

I like a laugh as much as the next woman, and probably more, but i wouldn’t do that, OP.

It’s just a bit naff.

In 36 years that's never been my experience. They're usually incredibly helpful, supportive and kind. You can ask them all sorts of favours and they're flexible and accommodating.
Maybe I've been fortunate, but then I show them respect and value their work.

What am I reading, who does this past the age of 8. The retaliation was the complaining about her, this is just imbecilic,

The receptionists at my son’s secondary school are always shirty. It’s like they’re constantly in a bad mood and being defensive, when you talk to them.
It’s like being there is just a big fat chore, which I’m sure it is sometimes, but they’re not allowed to take it out on me.

They forget i’m not one of the pupils, i think, cos the tone of voice they use isn’t one I’m used to, as an adult.

I’m pretty sure the lady being discussed in this scenario is being set up by someone who is the real culprit - such as the front of desk staff member.

No-one would be stupid enough to put something so identifying on MN.

What’s happened is the original lady complained - the front of desker was pissed off - and this is her revenge. Vandalise her image and post on MN that it was the lady who complained.

I see you op

I hope this is true because that is the kind of thing that I find so fucking funny 😂 silly, immature, playground BRILLIANCE

Probably not the best idea you'll ever have had, but it made me laugh out loud 😁

I agree I’ve been doing what I do for almost 30 years and the school receptionists are generally great. Only a handful have had a real attitude problem and this is one of them.

I completely value the school support staff they are the ones who get everything done and make everything easier by facilitating what I do. Respect and value work two ways as far as I’m concerned

It is true 🤣

Just spoke to HT about something unrelated. It wasn’t mentioned- thankfully. We both did have huge sighs of relief to not have to go back

Yeah well imbecilic does sometimes have a place

Woah! Obviously I am nothing but respectful to anyone who I meet in a school, but some of them see fit to fling your pass on the counter without so much as a hello, they leave you outside in the rain when they’re sitting next to the buzzer…I could go on. On rainy day I asked a particular receptionist if she could possibly use the phone system to call for a child to come for their lesson rather than going out in the rain across the playground and she said, ‘nah, there’s no phone in that room’. There is! I’ve seen the teacher use it. Ffs.
Obviously it’s not all of them. But it’s enough of them.

Yeah I’m quite a changeable personality type

Ok, if that's your experience. I've taught in 9 secondary schools and visited countless more, so I've obviously been fortunate.

This is super cringe. Its 'you don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps' type humour

Christ, talk about milking the last drop out of a thread!

Not finding something funny doesn't equal a sense of humour failure.

Not in my mum's school, they were damaged in lock down and have never been sorted

Blimey! They should get that sorted!

Sorry. Not finding this funny does equal a sense of humour failure. Some of the replies from the scolders are so pompous they are hilarious.

No it doesn't. I'm sure there are plenty of things that I find funny that you wouldn't and I wouldn't insinuate that you had a sense of humour failure because we have different tastes. Pomposity is nothing to do with it.

Some of the replies from the scolders are so pompous they are hilarious.