Do you have a space where you work that you can call your own?
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
September 20, 2011 11:47am CST
Do you have your "own" locker, desk, or office where you work or do you have to share with other workers?
My husband works in a manufacturing plant and each worker is assigned a locker where they can keep their things.
I work in a large call center and even though we are squeezed together in very cramped quarters until today our tiny little desk was assigned to us.
Today we got an email telling us that we need to keep our desks clean and clear because if we are not working that day - another person (with no assigned desk) WILL be using our desk that day. So, you can't personalize your desk any more, either.
These unfortuate people have no assigned desk, locker, or anything else and will have to carry all of their books/tools around with them going to a different desk each day (they will also be adjusting chairs, volume controls, etc).
What about you? Do you have any place that you can call "yours" where you work?
2 people like this
13 responses
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
21 Sep 11
Yes, I have an office room at my work place at the company. Not a huge room, but still quite spacious and comfortable. I could have the desk, a desktop computer, printer, fax machine, telephone, file-cabinet, and a file shelf. And, quite conveniently, a meeting room is just next to my office room. My colleagues and I get together in the meeting room some times.
1 person likes this
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
20 Sep 11
In the past, I used to have my own office. I liked that because there was privacy. Since I am basically a private person, that kind of work environment suits me well. Moreover, I am easily distracted by noise and so having my own office is ideal. Now I work from home and my 'office' is my own room. So, I still have my privacy and there isn't much noise when I close my door. This is my ideal office!:)
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
20 Sep 11
I would be too distracted if Iworked at home - no place to make an office with a door that could be closed.
I don't mind working with others; but, it is nice to feel like you have a spot that is "yours" even if they do move you around every couple of months as shifts change and people come and go.
Now, we won't even have that.
1 person likes this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
22 Sep 11
Our desks are so small that there is not much room for personalization anyway; but, even the person with the most "stuff" at their desk has always been able to move everything from one desk to another and get set up within 30 min.
Yes, it is disruptive and not good for morale; but, they insist on doing it anyway.
1 person likes this
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
20 Sep 11
But if you have to move once every few mths, wouldn't it be disruptive? Still, you won't be able to hang personal stuff at your workstation if you are expected to move once every few mths, isn't it? Anyway, wish you luck and hope you will be able to have your 'permanent' workstation in your current workplace.:)
@GardenGerty (157665)
• United States
20 Sep 11
I am not employed outside of the home. I do have a computer stand for when I am upstairs, but other than that, everything is fair game. Not really mine. I will say that for a while we had teachers doing what you describe at the high school and middle school. Some of them had rolling carts for all of their teaching aids.
@GardenGerty (157665)
• United States
22 Sep 11
I also need to be allowed to work, but today he keeps talking to me and will not let me get going on freelance articles.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
22 Sep 11
Even in your own home you NEED a place that is "yours". Like you, at home MY space is a corner where my computer is. My husband has the garage and my son's space is his room. People can share a lot of things; but, never having even a corner to call "yours" is stressful.
2 people like this
@watergirl (567)
• Philippines
21 Sep 11
I have a locker for myself. It's not a big locker but it's enough to keep my stuff in. Each employee is assigned a locker but management keeps a duplicate key so it's advisable not to keep items that are too personal.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
22 Sep 11
Management normally does keep a key to lockers (liability and saftey issue). But, you can keep thing in there without having to worry about them.
Our desks are all side by side in rows and no walls or screens of any type so you have things that are "too personal" either; but, we didn't have to take care of things every time we had a day off either.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
21 Sep 11
In our office, we all have our own tables and chairs , which are really for us alone. We even have a steel cabinet where we can keep all the files of our boss, and assign two drawers for our personal things, like me. 
Those table and chairs, including our laptop are under our names. We were made to sign a materials form for them. When they get lost like the laptop, you will pay for it.
Those table and chairs, including our laptop are under our names. We were made to sign a materials form for them. When they get lost like the laptop, you will pay for it. @speakeasy (4171)
• United States
22 Sep 11
You are very lucky. We do not have to sign for anything except our security badges and if we lose them we have to pay a ridiculous amount to replace them (the amount is equal to one day's take home pay). All of our computers are desktops though; so, it's not like we can pick them up and walk off with them.
@pkz1988 (4)
• China
21 Sep 11
I am a graduate student,and i am so happy i have my own locker and desk even though i have to share a room with three other classmates.
I don't think i can share a desk or chair with others if i work in somewhere.Because i think it distract me and i can't work efficiently.
That's why Jack Sparrow always want his Black Pearl.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
22 Sep 11
Right, people can share a lot of things; but, we need a little space we can call "ours" (even if someone else does own it).
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
22 Sep 11
But, is it the same girl all the time? Do you know her?
I worked one place that was 24 hrs and I shared a desk with one person and it was fine - I had my things on one side of the desk and they had their things on the other side. I worked overnight and they worked during the daytime. But, those were standard size desks 6' by 2.5'. The "desks" we are having to share are only 4' by 1.5'. Not enough room to do something like that after you add computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and phone.
1 person likes this
@stacysmomstl (397)
• United States
20 Sep 11
I'm supposed to but it's not off limits to anyone in the office. I have my own office, but I do notice when I'm not around, or if I'm out of the office, someone always goes through things on my desk. Not just work stuff. I wouldn't mind that. But personal stuff. Like sometimes I'll bring bills that I might pay on my lunch, or magazines to read, and the next thing you know, someone is standing there reading or looking through it. Then I get the "I wasn't trying to look through your personal stuff." Really?? Then why are you reading my mazagine? LOL It's frustrating.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
20 Sep 11
Our tiny desks are all out in an open room; so, it would be obvious if anyone tried anything like that. But, things in the refrigerator do disappear even when they clearly have the person's name on it.
1 person likes this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
22 Sep 11
I have worked like that before - a little cube to leave your things in while you work and in a lot of places there isn't even a door that you can close let alone a actual locker.
It is is shame that these places do not even care enough about their employees to give them a small locker (and, management can keep the master key to them). Everyone needs a little corner that is just theirs. It makes work less stressful and gives the employee a sense of "belonging" to thecompany.
1 person likes this
@lologirl2021 (5542)
• United States
20 Sep 11
Well i do have my own desk but the thing is that when im not here either one of the guys will sit here or my boss will sit here because his desk is in the back of the office and when we talks tothe guys inthe morning he will sit at my desk because its in front of the employee table and the front door is in front of me as well so i see everyone come in and stand in front of me as well LOL. I do have all my own stuff at my desk, my papers, pens and pencils and all the little pieces of paper i write on as well. When my paperwork disappears i go nuts too and my boss will write on anything in sight too so i haveto remember to put my paperwork away too.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
22 Sep 11
I sometimes will find a supervisor borrowing my chair when I return from a break or lunch; but, the always return it when I come back; and, I have had to share my "space" with trainees who are listening to calls and actually taking calls under my supervision. I can deal with that. They KNOW they are sharing MY space for a predetermined amount of time.
But, this new policy, means that is THEIR desk on the days I am off and I don't even know WHO I am sharing with. It also creates a "second-class" group of workers who are constantly having to try to locate and set up everything every day they come to work. It creates an "us vs them" type of mentality.
Not a good thing in any workplace.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215808)
• Chile
20 Sep 11
I´m retired so I don´t go out to work. And I live alone, so my whole house is my own space. But there are some parts of the house that I feel they are more "my home" than others. I only use the living and dining room when I have guests. But my kitchen, my bedroom and the room where the computer is (I call it foldly my pigsty) are tryly mine. I have my TV in my bedroom and I can listen to music here at my computer room.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
20 Sep 11
No I don't. I have a spot I sit mostly but even that I can't call my own.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
20 Sep 11
Do you have books and other materials that you need to carry around with you? If I have to start moving around, I would need a large backpack to carry just the things I need to do my job and then I would need to unpack and repack it every day.
1 person likes this
