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?

The best you can hope for is either she saw it and was so embarrassed she cleaned it, or a kindly colleague of hers cleaned it because they wouldn't want to see her upset. Sometimes people fix others' acts of bullying to protect the victim. I appreciate she seemed unprofessional to you and believe me there are plenty of people I've come across in my lifetime who seemed to enjoy making things difficult, but your actions could embarrass this person in front of everyone visiting the school, whereas her actions inconvenienced you only. If I were glth first person seeing it at the school I'd try to clean it up but if it was raised as vandalism or bullying it would require investigation.. and I'd check the school group policy for if bullying or vandalism is gross misconduct enough to sack someone if anyone calls you into a meeting.

I don’t think so no.

Picking on the lowest paid members of staff isn't really conducive for continued employment. Especially as it sounds like you're a peri and therefore utterly replaceable.

If this is true (and you aren't actually trying to get somebody else fired by creating a narrative that will make it ridiculously easy for the schools concerned to identify you), hope your pension arrangements are up to scratch, as you're not very likely to get further bookings once references are requested.

I’m all for having a laugh at work but tbh that’s taking things too far and is unprofessional.

And you work in a school.

Thankfully school staff don't need to set examples to anyone important as part of their day to day.

I completely agree, hopefully she will be caught out for her bullying. That’s assuming you realise bullying is systemic. My retaliation was a one off, I’m not the bully here

Actually are you really a member of staff or a pupil????

It’s fine, whilst doing my job I’m extremely competent and professional.

😂😂 I’m a freelancer who’s on the wrong side of middle age

Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Expect to get less work going forward. People talk.

I didn’t pick on anyone. Nobody is indispensable, but I’m not easily replaced

What on earth were you thinking? That’s so immature and there is bound to be security cameras in the foyer. You could end up in serious trouble for this.

Yeah of course. I can’t take on anymore work at the moment anyway

Makes it worse. You’re old enough and experienced enough to know better.

But you clearly think it’s ok so crack on if you don’t mind your professional reputation to be tarnished.

You may be right, but there are two sides to everything. I’m not sure they want to open up this can if worms

Well I think she deserved it, OP. It’s just a drawn on moustache, it’s not like you garrotted her.

I plan to crack on. I do know better, as I said on another post it was a momentary lapse. I’m sure we all have them

It was quite artistic actually, with big curly bits at the end. I took a picture on my phone, I’m looking at it now

Organisations won't be associated with you. Consultants fall under same category.

Have you got business insurance or a link with insurance if you get a claim against you?

There have been many rich and powerful people who have fallen. No one is indispensable

The vitriol in these responses 🥱

i think it’s hilarious 😆

And you can't not respond.

Which is what got you to your current position in the first place.

you had to have the last word even if it meant sinking to pathetic

Of course I have insurance, and of course nobody is indispensable. I realise it wasn’t the most appropriate thing to do but there’s a lot of complete over reaction here

Don’t know what you’re going on about

Not your finest hour, but very funny.

How big is the picture of her? Would it be really obvious to anybody walking past?

Fingers crossed nothing comes of it. But best to lie low and not say anything.