Due to long term back problem I have had a large amount of time off since June 2012. I have, in fact been there less than I have been off sick. The team was newly formed in Feb/March. It is in an open plan office, hard to describe, but there is one seat that is vacant due to, well no-one wants to sit there, it is on the edge by the door, with one person opposite and one person next to it. There is a high sided filing cabinet on the side with person next to it, so you can't see or talk to that person. When we moved to our team (12 people) we were asked to choose preferances, I said, I don't care where I sit, as long as it is not there! As did everyone else. So, the christmas tree lives there at the moment!
Now, my boss has been supportive of my absences, helped me get back to work, sorted out desk assessments, given me time to leave early to get meds when in pain, agreed reduced hours to manage pain levels, and generally been a good egg.
Of course, my relationship with my fellow team members is not as strong as others in the team, because of absences, fair enough. Where I sit currently is a little isolated, but I have some collegues relatively near me I can talk to. But, not to the whole team, who all sit quite close together and talk all together about both work and non-work related stuff, it is a very positive team over on that side. The one person I sit next to is a nice bloke but he works alone, perfers not to be spoken to, fair enough his choice, he has chosen to have high sided wall dividers around him. I quite like chatting with my colleagues, bouncing ideas of work, getting advice, generally networking so I have felt a little sidelined, but for no reason just how it worked out seating wise (no-one opposite me as empty seat).
So, yesterday, I was told seats are going to be changed, and colleagues will be moved to sit in a row of three seats opposite me my colleague and into the 'seat no-one wants', that me my colleague and the one next to him will all stay the same. Great I thought, I will have a little company to talk to, maybe be part of the team once again.
My back went badly again yesterday, so, I am not in today. My boss called me, she was in the office with colleagues and asked me if I was ok to move to that seat, she was nervous saying it as she knew I would like it. I told her 'not really, it's very isolating' and she said 'oh but x will sit next to you (the quiet guy seperated by a high filing cabinet and a high dividing wall) and opposite will be x. But x works in that office one day a week most, so for most of my week, that desk will be empty. And I will be further away from my other colleagues than I am now! She skirted over my protests and I felt compelled to agree. And all my things will be moved for me this week as I am not in.
I know why, because all the team are going, we don't want to go there, they are all chatting about it now, and I am the one who cannot be involved. There is a new member of the team, who gets on great with everyone (from old team close to us so known to everyone), she confident, assertive, and only works 2 days, so would not be hindered at all sitting there.
I just feel so isolated at this being arranged without me even though this was being planned in the last two days when I was there, and that it is just going to end up with me never re-establishing a working relationship with me team.
Sorry for the moan. I sent an email outlining my concerns, but feel, well someone has to sit there, but instead of a well established member of the team, or this guy who does not want to talk to people anyway, i have been picked as I cannot argue against it like the others can.
I just don't feel like I am part of a team. And this is not the first time I have felt this way.