Gimme a desk with depth
So a month or two ago, I got moved from my spacious piece of cubicle real estate into more cramped space, sharing an office with two others (one of which being my boss; cramped my style, let me tell you...). Of course, planning wasn't perfect and I went from a standard sized L-shaped desk to what amounts to a student desk. It wouldn't be so bad but it's only 24" deep - fine for studying but not fine for computer work. To paraphrase my mother, I'm too close to the TV screen. So I requested another desk, one that's 30" deep, new or used didn't matter.
I truly feel sorry for our office supply contact. For the headaches he's been giving me, there must be some seriously passive-aggressive workers out there. All I want is a 30" deep desk with an L return. The most important part is that 30" depth - room for monitor, keyboard, my ergonomic health.
"What color do you want the desk?"
Me: "Thirty inches wide."
"I can match the other furniture but it'll take two months to get it."
Me: "It can clash. I'll take what's in stock as long as it's 30" deep."
"What other color do you want?"
Me: "What gets here fastest?"
Seriously, I've gotten two and three calls at a time about this. I cannot make him understand that all I care about is having enough space to work without torturing my body and I just can't be outright rude to the man because he earnest. I even tried to deflect the color decision off on the department admin - she's a prickly woman at the best of times. I figured whatever color made her happy worked for me. Ironically, when the furniture guy asked her about desk color, she told him to ask me. She laughs about that. She also confirmed that the guy is concerned that with as little input as I'm giving, I won't like what he gets me. She's says it happens all the time.
Then, there's the concern on how it will fit into the space. I share an office with two fairly burly guys. I'm not worried about rearranging the furniture and neither are they. It's something we can do, get a feeling of accomplishment from, and not get nagged about from passive-aggressive clients who can't/won't communicate their needs clearly or concisely. The furniture contact has been here at least three times measuring things out, worrying about the bookcases and partitions. I finally chased him and his measuring tape away with a firm "We're not afraid of moving *everything.* We'll make it fit."
And every time he talks to me about it, he tells me about the available colors and what do I want? And how about a keyboard tray? I finally started agreed with anything he seemed to want me to agree with, with the caveat that the damn desk be 30" deep and whatever options didn't delay its arrival.
The desk arrived Thursday.
It was damaged, of course.
I'm told to expect its replacement today.
I truly feel sorry for our office supply contact. For the headaches he's been giving me, there must be some seriously passive-aggressive workers out there. All I want is a 30" deep desk with an L return. The most important part is that 30" depth - room for monitor, keyboard, my ergonomic health.
"What color do you want the desk?"
Me: "Thirty inches wide."
"I can match the other furniture but it'll take two months to get it."
Me: "It can clash. I'll take what's in stock as long as it's 30" deep."
"What other color do you want?"
Me: "What gets here fastest?"
Seriously, I've gotten two and three calls at a time about this. I cannot make him understand that all I care about is having enough space to work without torturing my body and I just can't be outright rude to the man because he earnest. I even tried to deflect the color decision off on the department admin - she's a prickly woman at the best of times. I figured whatever color made her happy worked for me. Ironically, when the furniture guy asked her about desk color, she told him to ask me. She laughs about that. She also confirmed that the guy is concerned that with as little input as I'm giving, I won't like what he gets me. She's says it happens all the time.
Then, there's the concern on how it will fit into the space. I share an office with two fairly burly guys. I'm not worried about rearranging the furniture and neither are they. It's something we can do, get a feeling of accomplishment from, and not get nagged about from passive-aggressive clients who can't/won't communicate their needs clearly or concisely. The furniture contact has been here at least three times measuring things out, worrying about the bookcases and partitions. I finally chased him and his measuring tape away with a firm "We're not afraid of moving *everything.* We'll make it fit."
And every time he talks to me about it, he tells me about the available colors and what do I want? And how about a keyboard tray? I finally started agreed with anything he seemed to want me to agree with, with the caveat that the damn desk be 30" deep and whatever options didn't delay its arrival.
The desk arrived Thursday.
It was damaged, of course.
I'm told to expect its replacement today.