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?

Whilst we are at it I spat in someone's tea. I watched her drink it as well. I don't know how I didn't crack up. Poker face. God, this thread is bringing back so many memories!

based on this, you sound like an idiot

Deny deny deny.
Sadly they might blame some poor student at the school.
This thread did make me laugh though! First the act, arguably immature and a little unwise, and then the earnestness if the responses, omg.
They say that after 50 we run out of fucks to give and it's very liberating.
I haven't yet run out but maybe one day I'll be drawing on the photos too 😁

So is she (the women in the office) an adult and she was hiding like a 14 year old who didn’t want to hang about with a particular friend that day. Surely these things cut both ways don’t they. It can’t be right for one to be an arse hole and not okay for the other person. What’s good for Goose is good for the Gander

Don’t be daft. I was there and you weren’t so you can’t possibly know the answer. You’re obviously trying to get a reaction

No I’m sensible, grounded and highly educated. Humans are quite complex and even the best of us have our limits and respond unfavourably in moments of weakness.

Post a photo or it didn't happen!

You didn't professionally call her out for her behaviour though. You made a direct comment about her "social skills" to her face which could be deemed a personal attack on her. You then defaced a photograph of her. Have you never heard of killing them with kindness? You had ample opportunity to try to be overly friendly and positive each time she finally opened the door for you to win her over, and if she really had a problem she would either be forced to open the door to get you through fast without chatting or she'd say something obvious enough for you to report. One comment to your manager about her behaviour (which was then rectified) doesn't show a history to your employer of you being bullied. One instance of telling someone they lack social skills plus one instance of defacing a photograph of them in a public place does evidence a pattern of behaviour. However you feel, you haven't backed yourself up. From your description, you didn't try to be friendly or validate the situation and you only escalated to your manager after making comments directly to the person about how you perceive their skillset.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

I suspect the OP may be in very similar role to me from what she’s said. Im a freelancer working in schools and am constantly being offered far more work than I can possibly take on. Of course headteachers talk to each other, but like the OP said, most of the heads I know would probably find it amusing. However, I doubt many would have time to talk about minor incidents like this when they spend so much of their time worrying about their budgets and how to make ends meet.

@Saracopp One house point docked as I was expecting it to be googly eyes.
very funny though!

I doubt anyone will even notice. It’s taken three years at my last school for them to notice some of the ‘meet our staff’ pictures are of people who no longer work there - as in left or retired years ago.

Exactly

Sigh 😞 completely inaccurate

No it’s true I’m afraid

Well, assuming this is true, I would imagine all the staff and many of the parents will have clocked this by tomorrow and some of them will have read this post.

Possibly

It's highly unlikely all the staff and parents have seen this thread 😂 but as I said earlier, get this thread deleted.

What I wouldn't give to see that picture! LOL

Sorry I laughed out loud, this is so ridiculous. Serves her right. Wonder how long it takes for anyone to notice 😂

Expect to lose your job, your behaviour was extremely unprofessional.

Unless there are cameras who would know?

You could have stayed on top when you had words with her. Now she will be patting herself on the back for being arsey with you.

Best you pray there's no CCTV.....
This could be a career ending moment OP, I how you have a back-up plan?

Post the picture on here.

My pal has said it is people like you that keep her in a job. She provides HR advice to schools...

The head will ring as the secretary has gone off due to a malicious act. She quotes stress at work etc etc

Then she goes off for weeks... They have no cover, parents are moaning about no information.. depending on a few things it will take time to work out who did it..

.

They should be focusing on budgets, instead they will be meeting about someone who did something horrendously stupid....

Seen this as well many times....

And the secretary has a few weeks off at full pay....

But my pal has said thank you. They aren't short of work but it keeps her time up providing advice to schools