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?

Even if there was it's unlikely she will loose her job. A slap on the wrists perhaps but nothing more.

You've clearly never faced at HR disciplinary investigation before then........

Well done op, I salute you because I did something equally as bad 20 years ago.
Our chairman was coming down to tour our department, he was a horrible and self important man.
The department manager decided to put a photo and some blurb of the chairman on the corridor notice board, total brown nosing.
I drew and cut out a tail and pinned it next to the photo ( not on it), with the message ‘ pin the tail on the donkey.’
I finished at lunchtime and went home.
The next day my colleagues, who all knew it was me, told me that the manager had seen the tail minutes before the chairman was due and had stomped up and down the corridor demanding to know who had done it.
My lovely colleagues all said they had no idea so I got away with it.
I don’t regret it and still chuckle to myself when I remember.

The OP has explained that she’s a freelancer and will no longer be working in the school concerned anyway. HR will have no jurisdiction over her behaviour.

Surely just deny it?

Funny maybe at the time but why on earth would you lower yourself to something like that?

Another 'sensible, grounded and highly educated' woman here.

I kidnapped a nasty plastic figure off a colleagues desk. I sent a carefully constructed ransom note with photo of nasty figure and demanded 47p in unmarked coins.

I didn't lose my job.

You do realise that if you dropped down dead tomorrow, the world would carry on perfectly without you?!

Imagine getting sacked for this and trying to get a reference

A lot of fun police around aren’t there. No it’s not professional or adult but neither was behaving like a dick to you for a long time. Hope you get away with it

How on earth do you have time for this at work 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m still laughing, it’s so funny 🤣

The OP won’t get sacked because she’s a freelancer, and doesn't need a reference because she’s said shes got plenty of work in other schools.

I can’t get sacked I simply wouldn’t get my contract renewed, and I don’t need or rely on references

Of course I do, that’s not what I said though is it?

You are as bad if not actually worse than her now you should be embarrassed

All work and no play is not healthy

Not really, no

My good points outweigh my bad ones

Who would know? A mumnsnetter parent or teacher that just read this post.
I think I agree with those suspecting this is not real.
Who in their healthy mind would keep a post like this active?

The world is not that small despite the internet

Swiping the figure into my bag took 10 seconds as I was walking past. Creating the ransom note and printing it out was done at home, on my own time. No employer time or property was misused in the creation of the ransom note. Leaving the note on her desk probably took 5 seconds.

Exactly and especially when it’s spontaneous it’s even quicker to be naughty

I'm surprised somebody who is clearly professionally successful, well-networked and accomplished thinks it's ok to pick a fight with and then "prank" a member of support staff who is probably on minimum wage. But you do you.

Righto.