Sharing an Office: Not allowed to use wardrobe

[itchyfanny]

Work in an office job. I’m currently rotating around different teams on a three year programme. 8ish months in each team.

I share an office with a direct manager. Two desks, two computers e t c. There is one wardrobe.

We are expected to have a fresh jacket and blouse etc ready in case a client comes in.

However, I’m not allowed to use the wardrobe. Even just to hang my jacket. I’ve been told it’s my current managers private one, so I have to hang things on the back of my desk chair. This isn’t very good for the structure of a jacket, and a shirt I just don’t have.

That's so strange. Put some coat hooks up on the back of the door?

I'd be asking if they can provide somewhere for you to hang your jacket & blouse.

Where do you hang your coat/mac in winter?

Coat goes on the back of my chair or if wet on the floor by my feet. Manager’s coat goes lovely on a wooden hanger in the wardrobe. The wardrobe is even attached to my desk not hers!

Can you buy a stick on hook and hang it on a wall somewhere?

Haha your manager actually said that? Or did it come via someone else?

That is so bizarre!

Maybe it’s the wardrobe that is the portal to Narnia and they don’t want you to find out😂.

Get an over the door hook and attach it to the wardrobe door

😂chuckled at that one. Seriously though, it must be a health and safety concern and they shouldn't be expecting you to use the back of your chair as a coat hanger?

So if there are two people in the room and one has a wardrobe, ask who you liaise with to get one ordered for you.

Buy a coat stand

That was my suggestion too, if there's room for it. Add some coat hangers for the spare outfits and you could even just leave it there in a suit carrier without fear of it getting dusty.

It's really weird to not have anywhere to hang a wet coat! Where are you getting changed in to this spare outfit?

I'd be tempted to dress like you're ready to see a client every day and not bother having to change!

That's weird.

Need more info:
Who bought the wardrobe?
Who said you couldn't use it?
Have you raise dthis with your manager's manager?

I would absolutely NOT buy my own hanging contraption for work. Ask to buy one with work funds.

What happens if you just use it...?

Is someone flinging your clothes out or something?

Was it your manager who said that? If not, I'd just use it anyway. That is clearly not a real rule.

Yeah, hung my jacket in the wardrobe on the first day. Was told quite sternly that the wardrobe did not belong to me so do not ever go in there.

Obviously all the office furniture belongs to the company.

Apart from the irrational office politics going on, don't you dress smartly enough for a client to come in anyway?

I would email whoever is responsible for this stuff (so it's in writing) and state that you are expected to have these extra clothes for clients so please could you have somewhere to store them so they can be kept clean and uncreased.

I say go peak passive aggressive. Get some stick on hooks for your things, and stick them on the outside of the wardrobe door....

Just walk about with your jacket on, and with the coat hanger stil inside your jacket.

Yes, I know it's weird but it's to prove a point that the rule banning you from using the wardrobe makes no more sense than you walking around the office with a coat hanger stuck inside your jacket.

It seems like the manager needs a less than subtle example shown to them before they comprehend the predicament they chose to place you in

There is method in my madness🤩😅

Make sure you keep a straight face, I know it's easier said than done.

It sounds mad. Why do you need to have spare uniform in case a client comes in? How messy can you get in an office job? As its a uniform I assume the company supplies it, so just crumple it up fold it and put it in a drawer, if it's creased and you need to change then tough - that's on them for not providing you with somewhere to hang it. (Obviously if it's your own clothes I can understand that you wouldn't want to risk damage, in which case I just wouldn't take a second set in).

Contact facilities management and/or HR. Ask them to provide a solution. When they come back to you saying there is a wardrobe already, play faux naive. 'oh, but Manager told me it was only for their use. Does that mean it's ok for me to use too?' Then you either have it in writing that it is a communal facility, or they have to provide an alternative viable solution.

Health and safety in our office your not allowed to hang coat on back of the chair! So we provided with coat rack.

why someone needs a wardrobe to themselves?

Don't bother taking in a change of clothes, buy a heavy duty stick on hook for your coat and a plastic suit cover from wilko or tesco for your jacket if its essential. The wardrobe is company owned but pick your battle, you can't reason with a self important narc.the office will soon start looking a tip. Is your bag safely stored?

Told by who?

Fuck that, contact whoever says you have to have the spare items and ask where you are to store them.