Coworker annoyingly claims shared desk, employee gets even by unplugging things: '[IT] pointed out that her power chord was loose'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Apr 29, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

It's weird to think that at one point, workers derided the cubicle, the confines of those grey-carpeted walls symbolizing their oppression. Whereas now, anyone in open-plan hot-desking office spaces would trade anything for the privacy that those same grey walls offered—a space to call your own outside of the immediate watchful gaze of your micromanaging boss where you can keep your things and not have to cart them around with you every day.

So, in a way, it's easy to see where this coworker was coming from… desperately clinging to the remnants of a time since passed. But at the same time, that doesn't excuse her from claiming a desk that is supposed to be shared with the entire team and defending it as if her life depended on it while setting it up with all of her personal belongings. Obstinate coworkers like this make the rigors of working even more unbearable, and this employee couldn't help but exact a little harmless petty revenge to get even.

Advertisement
  • 01
    "She called IT, and when they came, they simply pointed out that her power cord was loose (I wonder how that happened)."
    via Andrew Neel
  • 02
    Coworker is territorial about her shared desk, I'll just make it worse Our office is hybrid post-pandemic, and to cut down on costs we now have a shared desk situation. The only people with permanent desks are the higher ups or people who come in full-time.
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 03
    My coworker who shows up about 2 times a week still treats her desk like her own personal desk even though our whole team is supposed to use it. She's a bit of a grump and never removed her personal items and pictures (even though we were asked to do so). 90% of the time we just leave her desk alone because it's too annoying to deal with her complaints, and our manager basically avoids dealing with her because she's such a headache.
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 04
    But there are times when there just isn't many open desks so I have to sit at her desk and things get moved, of course. Nothing major, just the usual stuff with a shared desk. But of course she always complains and whines and tries to make us feel bad for "using her desk." A few weeks ago it got to be too much, someone else sat at her desk and adjusted a lot of things and so she blew up at me. I told her I hadn't sat at he desk, but she just whined about all the times before.
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 05
    I was done. So for the last few weeks whenever I go past her desk I make sure to move something or unplug something. It's been her off so much. The best moment came yesterday when she was freaking out because he laptop died mid-meeting. She's not great with technology and was freaking out. Of course she called IT and when they came they
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 06
    simply pointed out that her power cord was loose (I wonder how that happened). Our IT guy has a way of talking which was perfect for the moment because he basically walked her through a step-by-step process of plugging in the cord while everyone else could hear. She basically looked like a moron for not knowing how to check if it was plugged in. I couldn't stop smiling.
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 07
    No-Presentation-6525 10 hr. ago Put all her personal items in a cardboard box (those filing ones are most likely around the office somewhere) and put them under the desk with a typewritten note "from corporate", personal items are not allowed at shared desks overnight and will be disposed of if left overnight again. 1.7k Reply Share • • •
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 08
    Pink Floyd_Chunes 9 hr. ago This is precisely what needs to be done. And HR needs to do it. They could keep her box in storage and tell her to take it home. When she uses the desk, she can bring her box if she wants to and set up FOR THE DAY, then remove it when she leaves. You can keep the box if you like. They need to stop being weenies with her. It's called a shared work space. Kindergarten. Learn to share. 776 Reply Share
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 09
    Mapilean 10 hr. ago Our IT guy... basically walked her through a step-by-step process of plugging in the cord while everyone else could hear. This is priceless. LMAO 583 Reply Share
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 10
    RedsVikingsFan 10 hr. ago IT guy here. If I like you (aka you're friendly, respectful, etc during your other interactions with me), you'll get a discreet explanation of what happened (power cord was loose), a gentle reminder of how to prevent this in the future, and a "No worries, it happens to everyone at some point" encouragement so you don't feel like a total moron. If you're an when you asked for help in the past, you'll get called out so everyone can hear what a moron you are. 402 Reply Sha
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 11
    ShotFromGuns - 9 hr. ago • our manager basically avoids dealing with her because she's such a headache This coworker is a pain, but the manager is the real problem, because solving problems like this are exactly why they theoretically exist. Time to start dumping the coworker's stuff onto the manager's desk. 279 Reply Share
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 12
    julie178 10 hr. ago Every other member of the team should bring in a framed family photo and all leave it on the desk. Crowd that 215 up. Reply Share dmitrineilovich 8 hr. ago You petty • . I like you. 49 Reply Share
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 13
    lockinber 10 hr. ago I would move one of her personal items each week to a different desk. Just keep up the quiet revenge which you can listen to. Good luck with your ongoing petty revenge. 118 Reply Share • • •
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 14
    • Master_Sabretooth 10 hr. ago I'd be putting pictures of other people in her frames. Not replacing, just there on top. 70 Reply Share • • •
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 15
    ExtremeAthlete 8 hr. ago Put clear tape under her mouse☺ Change the height of her chair. Make her desk monitor extremely bright with high contrast. That should stress her out more. 39 Reply Share • • •
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 16
    9lobaldude 10 hr. ago • Looks like a moron, acts like a moron... she's a moron! 24 Reply Share
    via u/KodaKromeCity
  • 17
    grizzly_snimmit 8 hr. ago. When I worked night security one of my mates in IT was getting hassle from some busybody with a million minor complaints, so we made sure to move everything on her desk an inch to the left each night 17 Reply Share
    via u/KodaKromeCity

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

workplace discussion workplace-stories jobs job malicious compliance work workplace workplace malicious compliance employment in the workplace
Scroll Down For The Next Article