Colleague came into my bedroom, am I right to be angry?

[RubyN]

I am working at an intensive educational centre away from home for a month so I am living there with a few other employees.

At the beginning I asked for a lock for the room and was repeatedly told I would receive it soon. But...it hasn't been forthcoming and I've been given excuses about the security people giving my boss the run-around RE keys.

Last night 2 boys walked into another teacher's bedroom in the building I am sleeping in. She started yelling and they ran off, but they know who they are now due to CCTV.

Today I was supposed to have a shift at night following my 8 hour shift but was told it was no longer necessary and 'enjoy your night off'. I've been practically doing 3 jobs on some days and this past week I often fall asleep after work and miss dinner. Despite telling me I had the night off, I groggily was woken by my colleague calling me on the phone. 2 mins later I heard him shouting on me from outside and I heard him open the bedroom door. Wtf is he doing coming into the room? He has ever done this before, nor has any member of staff. He sent me a message afterwards saying he needed me to work after all but I am SO annoyed he actually opened my bedroom door while I was sleeping in bed.

Am I right to raise this RE a privacy issue with my boss asap?

[ThinkingCat]

The whole set-up sounds horrible. At least it's nearly over now.

[RubyN]

Hi ThinkingCat, no they never produced keys. Tomorrow is my last day.

To be honest I have grown increasingly unhappy because the other boss (there are technically 2) is such a massive creep, but has taken a particular fancy towards me. He actually told my female colleague he 'really needed a w*ank' when she went in to pick some certificates up last night. And they're talking to ME about safeguarding? What a complete and utter joke.

The kids and the laughs have been the best part but I won't be sorry to see the back of this place. Also the place I'm staying in is a private school with a good reputation, so its a joke that the security isn't taken seriously.

[ThinkingCat]

Are you OK OP?

Were you able to get to shops and buy a door wedge?

Did they eventually produce keys?

[Graphista]

Have you contacted accommodations owners directly yourself? I wonder if the boss is lying due to an additional fee required for key?

[POPholditdown]

Do you have any way of contacting the owners yourself? At the very least you can find out from then just how hard your boss has tried.

This is terrible. I must say, I don’t think I’d sleep easy in your situation!

[Uncreative]

You are in a residential educational setting. Keys may not normally be available to children for safeguarding purposes. But you are an adult.

The setting you are in must be regulated in some way as it involves children and a residential aspect. Report them to governing body or regulating body.

And buy a door wedge in the meantime.

[ImJustRestingMyEyes]

Exactly what previous poster said - amazon prime yourself a small bolt for the inside of your door.

[Shambu]

Personally I would order a small bolt and a screwdriver from Amazon Prime.

[PinguDance]

I’ve worked in places like what you’ve described and have also rarely or never had a lock on my door - my boss did actually walk in on me while I was asleep but it was an accident and he was mortified! If your boss isn’t taking you seriously that’s a really problem though - you defo have to trust your colleagues for this to work.

[KickAssAngel]

Quite frankly, you could put a sexual harassment complaint in against both the colleague who opened your door AND your boss.

[KickAssAngel]

As a teacher I've often taken kids to outdoor adventure type places, and they almost never have locks on doors. There are too many issues with lost keys, or kids could lock themselves in a room etc. Many of them never even lock outer doors, so everything is open and done on trust.

BUT - I have never had a boss who would smirk if I wasn't happy, - I have never been told just to put up with it - no-one would ever even think to come in the room if the door were shut (aside from a medical emergency).

Basically, it works if you can trust the people around you. Your boss should be talking to the colleague who opened your door, and spelling it out to them that they do not EVER do that.

Does anyone have a car where valuables can be locked? It sadly sounds like you can't trust people to respect boundaries so you/your belongings aren't as safe as they should be.

[ThinkingCat]

This is making me extremely angry on your behalf. Your employer must be in breach of legislation regarding both safety and privacy. Whoever booked the accommodation should have ensured that each employee would have a lockable bedroom. Also an 8 hour shift and a last minute change from an "evening off" to another shift also sounds wrong. Are there any employment lawyers around on MN who can point to some relevant legislation?

[peekyboo]

Contact the security people etc direct and find out if anyone has mentioned anything at all to them. Bet nothing has been said.

[RB68]

As others have said get a wedge of some sort for your side of the door - place at side with handle, it only needs to be a triangle of wood or something or I am sure there would be some rubber door stops around that would also work

[RubyN]

I can't just go home for 2 reasons.

1. I have a lot of belongings here and a friend helped me with everything. They are only free to help me again nxt weekend.
   
   
2. I need the money. I 100% don't have the luxury of turning down the second week.
   
   I'll definitely file a complaint once I leave though. My boss's argument is that the accommodation owners won't give him ANY keys. He says he has tried his hardest but they refuse to hand them over.

[ThinkingCat]

I would go home. It isn't safe. Why would they use this accommodation? Have they used it before? Has the so-called friend got a lock on her door?

[TheProvincialLady]

Barricading yourself in is a massive fire risk. Can you just go home? I think I would. This sounds unsafe and hideous.

[PatheticNurse]

Don't automatically think bad of your friend. She could have mentioned it to your boss with the best intentions

[pumpkintree]

pack your bag call a cab or get in your car and go . don't tell them either. Just email your boss

[Gotthetshirt23]

Paint or flour bomb over the door .....

[bringbacksideburns]

Who the hell do you work for???

Raise it to whoever is senior to him. He is unbelievable.

[Zaphodsotherhead]

Surely barricading yourself in with heavy furniture is a massive risk in case of fire?

What the hell are they doing telling you there's no way to lock your door? What kind of cowboy outfit is this anyway?

[RubyN]

I contacted the boss last night so he could start making arrangements for me to have the key. This morning he sat next to me at breakfast and ate in silence, ignoring me completely. He's not a 'morning person' but I find this rude.

I've befriended another teacher here and confided in her about the situation - later that day when I spoke to the boss about it, he clearly already knew all the details. He had a smirk on his face almost the whole time and I felt totally disrespected.

He blatantly said he cannot get me a key and I will need to barricade myself in. He tells me he is personally using a cupboard - that's great for him but all such items are too heavy for me.

So now I feel unsupported by my so-called friend who blabbed what I told her to him and also no solution. I feel upset but am trying to remember I only have a week left....I have no choice as I need the money.

[AngelsSins]

I can’t believe they’re being so utterly reckless about safety like this. Absolutely shocking. Damn right you need to kick up a massive fuss.