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Original poster

Hot desks - where to keep personal items

74 replies

Oriono · 03/12/2021 21:46

I'm leading on an office move that has unexpectedly been forced on us, and as we're working towards hybrid working, we're having less desks and will be hot desking.

But I'm concerned about where staff are going to keep their personal items - mugs, hand cream, pain killers, tampons, you know the stuff - after going from a situation where everyone is used to their own space.

We won't have room for lockers, trays have been suggested but that also feels a bit primary school-ish.

Has anyone seen any good solutions to this?

Thanks

OP posts:

Ugzbugz · 03/12/2021 21:49

Yes some got lockers but there were not enough to go round so you just have to leave your cup in kitchen cupboard and carry rest of stuff.

I witness so many people not washing their hands after using the toilet, found a bogey on a hotdesk keyboard and have watched the standard of cleaning. Absolutely gross.

TigerDroveAgain · 03/12/2021 21:50

Bags are your friend here

lljkk · 03/12/2021 21:53

Large plastic boxes is a solution in some depts at my workplace. Very primary school, exactly.

Every time I moan on MN that hybrid is worst of all worlds because of the hassle of hauling stuff back & forth I get told off for wanting to bring more stuff than whatever fits in my pockets.

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2021 21:56

We do hot desking. All the stuff on your list would be in my handbag.
TBF when I did have my own desk in my old job I never kept personal stuff in it though.

Mantlemoose · 03/12/2021 21:57

Well mugs in the kitchen and everything else in my handbag.

lebkuchenforxmas · 03/12/2021 21:58

I think it partly depends on how people get to work. When I used to use public transport & had a bit of a walk at one end, I liked to keep as much in the office as I could. Now I commute by car - as, due to location, does just about everyone else - I'm less concerned as it's just a question of carrying it from the car park to office & so I'm happier to take my usual hand bag plus a "work bag" which has all of my odds & ends in.

FanSpamTastic · 03/12/2021 21:58

We had mini lockers in an office where I worked. They were smaller than school lockers - just a bit higher than an A4 folder. We had one or two filing cupboards per department and a very rigorous electronic filing protocol.

Seafog · 03/12/2021 21:59

In a past job we had a hot desk situation, and we all had to keep anything personal at all in our own bags/back packs, under our desk.
It was shit.

Clymene · 03/12/2021 22:00

No one needs that stuff in the office. They can carry it in a bag.

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2021 22:00

There's no way I would leave my mug in the communal kitchen.

Bluntness100 · 03/12/2021 22:01

Everything in your hand bag apart from mugs.

Fizzgigg · 03/12/2021 22:04

@Mantlemoose

Well mugs in the kitchen and everything else in my handbag.

Well yeah. Don't need to leave any of that stuff in the office. And only need a personal mug if your office doesn't supply any.

MissAmbrosia · 03/12/2021 22:04

I've seen lockable trolleys before but if you have no room at all for lockers I can't think what else would work. I started a new job just before lockdown and only left my mug (which has probably vanished now) . When I emptied my old locker at previous job it was the first time I'd been in there for 2 years. I had some books and teabags.

thedevilinablackdress · 03/12/2021 22:05

We're having fewer desks too and some of the freed up space is for lockers. Try pushing back this? Find an angle, like our organisation likes to look like it supports health and well-being, so they have to support active travel and give us somewhere to store our bike helmets, trainers, whatever.

SnarkyBag · 03/12/2021 22:07

Most of that stuff can live in your bag it’s not a big issue really

Leftbutcameback · 03/12/2021 22:08

We have plastic boxes under the desks, as they are big enough to do this without impinging on leg space. We also have drawer units under desks. Everyone can have either a locker, box on wheels, or drawer unit. The biggest issue is they get filled up with stuff which never gets moved again!

Suggest communal mugs, everything else in a plastic box with lid labelled with name. Yes, a bit primary school, but keeps everything neat and easily cleaned. Including your own keyboard for hygiene!

NerrSnerr · 03/12/2021 22:11

We have hot desked for years. Mugs live in the kitchen, everything else in the bag.

megletthesecond · 03/12/2021 22:13

We have our own lockable drawers.
What about a filing cabinet drawer each?

I have office shoes, hot water bottle, scarf, tissues, snacks, big cardigan, water bottle, mug and handcream in mine. I walk and can't carry that in every day.

Taswama · 03/12/2021 22:18

@lebkuchenforxmas

Agree with this.

Telling people to just bring staff back and forth is a lot less practical if individuals aren't driving. If the company wants to encourage people to use more sustainable transport options, this should be considered.
We now all have laptops so have to carry these back and forth every day. If I'm doing two consecutive days in the office, I'd rather just leave the laptop there.
I would consider getting some lockers at least and giving priority to people who don't drive to work.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 03/12/2021 22:26

I always thought hot desking was for people who are rarely in the office.

Have things changed?

RogueV · 03/12/2021 22:26

I have a humongous tote I take to work everyday for this reason.

parietal · 03/12/2021 22:30

I'd push as hard as you can for lockers. Even a small locker is better than nothing.

dgirluk · 03/12/2021 22:30

I've always hot decked. Laptop, tampons etc. in my work bag (rucksack) + the numerous cables, power supplies, notebooks, makeup, tissues etc. Mugs... err... just in a kitchen cupboard. If there's not a clean one, wash one with washing up liquid and use it. No personal mugs, just "supplied" ones.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 03/12/2021 22:31

We used to have lockers. There were some items I only used in the office e.g. adapters for display equipment and spare glasses etc. That would have fitted in a tray or a much smaller locker.

KimberleySakamoto · 03/12/2021 22:36

@Oriono I share a desk and a job with another woman. We both keep our hand cream, tampons etc in the top drawer, and it really isn't a biggie. We are friendly during handovers etc but not close friends - but we are both pleasant and agreeable and respectful of one another's belongings. So sharing a drawer really isn't a big deal. We also share a mug as there are several in the office kitchen but we both like the same one. The main thing so far as I'm concerned is to make sure the desk is left as I find it (as she also does), and to make sure that I wash the favoured mug up properly (as she also does).

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