Sunbed Baggers…moves management

Possession is nine tenths of the law they used to say or in the workspace read that as once mine always mine. And I don’t mean ‘where’s my hole punch?’ or ‘who’s got my stapler?’ but the mild panic and consternation caused during an office move when a chair or heaven forbid a bin, not the exact possession dutifully identified with a unique sticker roll up at the wrong position.

Many times through my career which scarily has almost reached thirty years, I’ve heard of many a moves manager getting hammered by their peers over a misplaced bin or seat allocation that was not as previously owned or tagged. It’s not that the chair is different or has any less functionality it’s just not the same one. When you consider that several hundred people have been moved over the course of forty eight hours along with all the furniture, files and equipment into a new space that is operational from the moment the working week begins on a Monday, it is incredibly petty, inconsiderate and small minded to complain about something that will not affect anybody at all. The sheer number of elements requiring attention and careful considered planning during an office relocation is mind boggling and usually coming immediately off the back of the new office planning and fit out is a huge logistical undertaking.

However, complaints of this nature from the loud minority will very soon be a thing of the past but with the evolution taking place within offices I worry these grumpy gits may well have a greater cause to moan and complain. These inconsiderate few will no longer have their chair, their desk or thankfully their bin to covet. They may though moan about not bagging their favourite spot on the work floor and this could lead to the corporate version of towel placing in an attempt to secure the sunny spot.