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.

Don't you have a manager? I would bring this up with your manager or HR.

Your company requires you to have a blouse and jacket ready to go - but you've not been provided with anywhere to store them. You also need somewhere to store a wet coat.

The company needs to provide you with somewhere to store your coat, jacket and blouse. That's it. It's up to them. Bring it up with your manager or HR and ask them to provide you with something. They probably think you are using the wardrobe in your office and have no idea your mad colleague is not letting you.

It will be up to them to address with your mad colleague, or buy you another wardrobe.

that’s really poor. But console yourself with thinking how shit their life must be to need to try and establish their status over a wardrobe. Unless there’s a legit reason why they have that space like they have an illness and store medication or specialist equipment there or they’re pumping milk and store items there as well etc I guess? Anyway, if you’ve already said something along the lines of so is there a spot somewhere for whoever is sharing this office to hang their coat and their spare stuff and nothing is forthcoming I’d ask someone else who’s been there a while and is junior to her and more friendly where you should stash it. this may be the thin end of the wedge so I’d just try and be professional and competent but keep my guard up!

Well, all I can say is that you need to find a lion somewhere!

You already have a wardrobe.

You already have a witch, in the form of your crazy office-mate.

So, if you can also get a lion, you'll be in Narnia!

This can't be the only issue your direct manager has a problem with. What is it like working with them in general? Is this the only thing that is worth making a stand over? or would she retaliate. It sounds like a chat with HR is in order.
I'd try... "new years resolution, I'm not hanging my wet coat on the floor in 2024" and note the reaction. Maybe she's softened since you've been there or maybe if she's just as nasty about it, you can report it. and Photograph your wet coat, plus a view of the half empty wardrobe to back this up.

This reminds me of organisations (some still do it) where desks sit on rugs and seniority is marked by size. A former colleague was bemused by hurrying handymen racing to his office because a formal complaint had been made about a jumped up member of staff getting an extra couple of square feet they weren't entitled to.
Frank Muir told a story about getting an office job at the BBC. He was allocated an office with wall to wall carpet - several rungs above his pay grade. The solution the maintenance team took was to carefully measure the fitted carpet and cut a section out by the door to give the correct area.
OP, you have my sympathy. I think I'd just mention that your roomie takes a nap in the afternoons - hanging by her feet from the hanger rail.

I'm not sure I understand why you don't wear your office clothes to work.

We do this at my firm, you can go into work in your comfies such as Jeans/hoodie but if a client comes in you change into your smart attire, suit etc.

It’s not that the clothes need to be fresh as such but it’s to make a change from casual to smart. Lots of firms do this.

That’s ridiculous and discriminatory… speak to your manager and request a wardrobe ASAP. If they say no, raise a grievance with HR! Totally unacceptable to have your coat on the floor by your feet…. What kind of office set up is this?!

'Lots of companies' don't do this, unless in examples like PP gave where they are called into court unexpectedly. In most companies you would know if you had a client meeting that day and just dress in client appropriate clothes before you left the house.

I've worked across a lot of different industries and the most I've seen is men keeping a tie in a drawer or at a stretch a clean shirt at hand (and that was only because he sweated a lot).

I find this thread bizarre. Apart from the Manager-wardrobe-HR issue, if you know a client is coming why wouldn't you wear appropriate work wear that day?

*itchyfanny · 05/01/2024 14:30

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*

Then the reply should have been “where do I hang my things if not in the wardrobe provided by the company?”

The OP says "We are expected to have a fresh jacket and blouse etc ready in case a client comes in." so I guess they are not always given advance notice of client visits.

*... Photograph your wet coat, plus a view of the half empty wardrobe to back this up."

A wardrobe is not the best place to hang a wet coat anyway - there's no air circulation to get it dry (and the risk of other clothes touching it and getting wet). There needs to be a coat rack.

I have a trouser suit in the office (not a blouse, cos I don't wear them) but it means I can come in wearing jeans, boots and a vaguely smart top, then change if I need to. I also have a couple of spare tops in a drawer in case of coffee spillage. It all seems v logical to me.

My suit is on a hanger on a coat stand.

I agree with the PP who suggested the wardrobe may be partly clothes and partly secure storage.

" In most companies you would know if you had a client meeting that day and just dress in client appropriate clothes before you left the house."

She didn't say 'her' client, but 'a' client. Could it be that staff who are not part of the meeting are also expected to look smart when clients are walking around?

I’d be wondering what she was hiding in there tbh.

You’ve had a heads-up that this manager is a bit of an arse, so hopefully when you’ve finished your training you can swerve them being your permanent manager (and also cover your back in the mean-time in case they try and drop you in it).

Walk in, fling it on managers desk a la Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada, then stare her down a la Paddington Bear.

If a client does turn up, do they get kept waiting whilst everyone scrambles to get changed.

Where on earth do you get changed (surely not in a toilet with the possibility of what could be on the floor)

They all spin round like Wonder Woman!

All of its just seems nuts, who turns up at an office unexpectedly, why wouldn't you always just be in 'office' wear all the time?

And Op ain't coming back to answer the zillion questions