Coworker Spat

[ILG]

Hey All,

I had a little spat with a coworker today. We share a desk area and so do others share with us. I like to set up the desk in an ergonomically correct fashion. Most of the others (if not all) want the keyboard flat rather than at a downward slant away from the body. I do a few things like this and so I have to change the desk area around every time I come in. My coworker (who likes to control the desk area and can get catty for random reasons) asked me (told me) this morning to change the keyboard back the way it was when I came. We have had this discussion before and I have told her that I have to change the keyboard the way I want it when I come in and that everyone should arrange it the way they like when they come in and that I have no idea how she wants it changed. She says that I am the only one who likes it that way and so I should change it back. She is catty and gets an attitude about things like this.

So the question is, which is right:

1. Everyone should be responsible for changing the desk area the way they like when they come in.

2. I should be responsible for changing the area the way she wants it even though I have to change it when I come in as well.

[Pressing-On]

Do you all work together at the same time? If so, then you'll have to go with the majority, IMO. If you come in and work alone, then I would change it back when I left.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by ILG

Hey All,

I had a little spat with a coworker today. We share a desk area and so do others share with us. I like to set up the desk in an ergonomically correct fashion. Most of the others (if not all) want the keyboard flat rather than at a downward slant away from the body. I do a few things like this and so I have to change the desk area around every time I come in. My coworker (who likes to control the desk area and can get catty for random reasons) asked me (told me) this morning to change the keyboard back the way it was when I came. We have had this discussion before and I have told her that I have to change the keyboard the way I want it when I come in and that everyone should arrange it the way they like when they come in and that I have no idea how she wants it changed. She says that I am the only one who likes it that way and so I should change it back. She is catty and gets an attitude about things like this.

So the question is, which is right:

1. Everyone should be responsible for changing the desk area the way they like when they come in.

2. I should be responsible for changing the area the way she wants it even though I have to change it when I come in as well.

This. If you share a desk area with other people, each person should be arranging the desk how they see fit, so long as they don't have to shove furniture around or lift heavy plants. The energy she has to expend arranging it the way she wants it is no different than the energy you have to expend doing the same thing.

Is this seriously just over how the keyboard is tilted? LOL!!! Sounds to me like she's REALLY lazy.

[aegsm76]

How long does it take to change it back the way she wants it? If it takes a short period of time, then I would change it before I left.
I would also say that she must have some other issues in her life if this issue is that important to her.

[Phoenix]

I always put things back the way I found them. Or, the way that I know the next person will find most beneficial. I'm always thinking about what will make it easier for others to do their job and I do go out of my way to do those things. I have no idea what you should do in this situation, but I do know that I would put it back the way it was when I found it.

[Amanah]

you could make it like a reward/punishment system, when she pleases you, fix it the way she wants it; when she annoys you, dont fix it and leave gum wrappers and empty soda cans on the desk.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Amanah

you could make it like a reward/punishment system, when she pleases you, fix it the way she wants it; when she annoys you, dont fix it and leave gum wrappers and empty soda cans on the desk.

I'm just going to have to be nice to you so I won't get on your bad side!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

I always put things back the way I found them. Or, the way that I know the next person will find most beneficial. I'm always thinking about what will make it easier for others to do their job and I do go out of my way to do those things. I have no idea what you should do in this situation, but I do know that I would put it back the way it was when I found it.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Do you all work together at the same time? If so, then you'll have to go with the majority, IMO. If you come in and work alone, then I would change it back when I left.

It's a rather odd arrangement. We work at the same time but sort of at our own respective desks. So, I can have it the way I want it for a shift, sort of.

I put a foot stool down and a floor mat down as well and remove those when I leave.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

This. If you share a desk area with other people, each person should be arranging the desk how they see fit, so long as they don't have to shove furniture around or lift heavy plants. The energy she has to expend arranging it the way she wants it is no different than the energy you have to expend doing the same thing.

Is this seriously just over how the keyboard is tilted? LOL!!! Sounds to me like she's REALLY lazy.

Well, she was mad at me for working an extra hour last week and tried to control the space and work to "prove" I didn't need to be there. She asked my supervisor why "she was still here" (meaning me). She said "because I asked her to be".

She gets funny for a while and real touchy and then she will be fine. She left a pile of work that she didn't like to do on my desk because she didn't want to do it. She is not really lazy, just real particular about what she will and will not do. For me, it's partially about not feeling like dog doo on her shoe.