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.

I just wouldn't bother keeping a change of clothes in the office.

Do they think you are 2 and unable to est lunch without dribbling down you?

If anyone says anything then you need somewhere suitable to store clothes not the back of a chair

Ask them to provide you with adequate storage?

Do you have a caretaker/site care team? I would ask if they can put up a hook on the wall so you can hang your suit on a hanger.

Or speak to your direct manager saying your jacket keeps falling off the floor and do they have suggestions for how you can hang your clothes so they remain clean and crease free.

A couple of things.

Perhaps the mgr has a previous bad experience of moths - communal cupboards are a perfect hopping ground.

They have their personal wardrobe. Fine. That doesn't make it acceptable that you have nowhere to hang stuff. The jacket and blouse are side issues, my coat would not be going on the back of my chair or the floor. Contact caretaking and ask for some hooks for hanging.

I wouldn’t have a row about it.

Put in a request for a hook and take in a coat hanger from home.

Buy your own wardrobe. A really big wardrobe and have it delivered and set up in the office

Then if wardrobe manager complains say you thought as they said the wardrobe was theirs that everyone had to bring their own wardrobe to hang their jacket in so you just did the same.

Annoying; maybe she bought it for herself but I will just buy a stand hook or put some hooks behind the door or on a wall if they allowed. Just find your own solution; should be putting a coat on the floor

Either ask HR for direction on where to hang your clothes or ask the team you are going to next if you can start using their hanging space as you are not allowed to use the hanging space in your current department. That would enable you to hopefully start building good relationships with that team ahead of moving to their department.

Going to HR does run the risk of pissing off the current boss and making your time there worse.

If you drive into work can you keep
spare clothes hanging on the hook in the car?

How long have you worked there now? I can understand perhaps people being a bit offish when you first started but have you had a chance to build up relationships in the workplace enough to ask your colleague again?

Who told you this? If the manager she probably just wants the wardrobe to herself.

Just ask whoever is responsible for procurement for a wardrobe. You shouldn't really be hanging coats on the back of your chair.

"I have to say I thought the OP's situation was pretty ridiculous but this tops it for absurdity. This really is "health and safety gone mad". Can grown adults not be left to their own devices to manages a wheely chair? Ffs."

I totally agree. Wardrobe only for one colleague is stupid, no jacket on back of chair is stupid.

I just wonder what the manager actually keeps in the wardrobe that she wants everyone else to stay away from it!

"I’m very confused. Why don’t you just wear corporate clothes (blouse, jacket) every day?

Then you wouldn’t need to store them."

Bit of a waste if clients are only there occasionally and if the dress code is normally casual.
Also, she would need somewhere to keep her coat anyway or a spare cardigan for when it gets cold so a coat stand/space in the wardrobe is needed anyway.

"This reminds me of "screengate" in our office. They were rolling out bigger monitors and there were much politics at play to ensure that the senior members were first to receive theirs. Honestly all hell would have broken loose had a more junior member received one before their turn in the pecking order."

See also newer and better computers, better parking spaces, own office v sharing, office with windows, etc. etc.
These status things are part and parcel of many organisations and you just have to work around them. You're not likely to be win in a battle with your boss.

Asking whoever does the ordering for a coat stand is the best option imo. OP should not be paying herself for it.

I can understand not wanting to share a wardrobe actually, as PPs have mentioned sometimes people's coats smell or are not as clean... However that doesn't mean your coat should go on the floor! Can't they put in coat hooks on a wall or the door for yours?

Coat stand seems the best option.

Also decline any offers of socialising with said manager, minimal contact at the end of the period.

Go to management above her and ask for the company to provide you with your own wardrobe. If they tell you to use the one in your office, then say, oh Susan told me that it is her private property and I cannot use it. They can then resolve the situation how they see fit. If they send a company wide email reminding staff members that wardrobes are for use for everyone, then Susan can't stop you using it.

If it is indeed Susan's private wardrobe then they can buy one for the office and ask Susan to take her wardrobe home with her

"Go to management above her "

Only do that if the person who normally does the orders needs the approval from on high, I'd say. It might be possible to solve the problem without causing additional aggro.

Bemused so many people can't get their head round the concept of wearing casual clothes to work but changing into a smarter set if a client meeting comes up. I used to wear trousers to work but still have to have a dress or skirt available should I have to go into court at short notice 30 years ago (when female lawyers had to wear skirts/dresses still).

Message their manager direct.

Without complaining or pointing fingers, mention you're keen to maintain a professional look for visiting clients.

You want to ensure your spare clothes are as fresh and crisp looking as possible.

And that you don't want to inadvertently breach any health and safety requirements by hanging them on your chair, and perhaps have them fall on the floor and get dirty.

As you're not quite sure what's the right space for them ...

... ask where you should best store them in the office.

If they're sane they'll tell you to use the wardrobe.

Get that in writing and put your things in the wardrobe.

Then if manager complains tell them their manager has instructed you to do that.

When I did my work experience 30 years ago the man I worked for kept his tie in a drawer just in case he had to go to a meeting. Perfectly normal.

The manager sounds like she’s trying to push her weight around and assert her dominance. She probably doesn’t want to share an office and has got away with her foot stamping until now. I’m sure she was never told the wardrobe was for her own personal use, she is rude and self important.

Email whoever is in charge of your programme and ask where you are supposed to keep your spare clothes as they are getting crumpled and dirty hanging in the back of your chair. Ask if Facilties/Building Support can add hooks to the back of the door or provide a coat rack for your spare change of clothes and your coat.

I think faux naivety is the way to go. They will no doubt have assumed you already have access to the wardrobe as I don’t think there is any way they would have such an arrangement in place it is for the manager’s own personal use.

Everything about this is so bizarre
actual personal offices
suits and blouses
Required to have additional clean suits and blouses IN an office
An environment where a manager pulls that shit because they’re a manger

do you work in 1956?

This is a bit different to that. Most senior men I know keep a normal tie and a black tie at work, just in case .....
But scrolled up tie in a drawer or a pocket in a laptop bag is nothing like as annoying as a whole outfit!

I see it all as quite normal and believable!
I've worked in lots of places with individual offices. Not everywhere's gone open plan and it doesn't work for a lot of places.
Casual dress code for every day, but formal for clients also makes perfect sense.