My boss moving my computer every night? Need privacy!

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At the last place I worked, I was next to the shared printer and the cube wall was low enough that anyone at the printer was looking right at me. It bugged me, but I focused on the work. Over the years I've learned to silently tell myself "Ah, phooey" and let it go. Not easy at first, but a worthwhile survival tactic.

If your boss is trying to make you more visible, then there have probably been complaints she is trying to address. Bosses don't always tell employees about every single complaint as soon as they happen, unless the boss is a jerk or a rookie. It's not a good use of time. Leave the email alone, move to the visible position and try to help your boss instead of fighting an already lost battle. She should have told you why the computer was moved without you having to ask. But it's done and gone and you have today's work to do.

What you need to deal with is the anxiety which is all over your post. Look for ways to alleviate stress at work. Find ways to decompress at home. Do good things for yourself. If all else fails, look into meds with the person doing the diagnosis. Millions of us have done this for thousands of years. You can do it, too. Can too. Can too infinity.

You may not want to hear it, but I'm on the "find a way to adapt and deal with it" bandwagon. If your job requires that you be visible, then if you want to keep the job, you have to deal with not being able to hide. And most jobs do not allow you to be invisible, so learning how to cope with it now will help you for the rest of your life. It's not easy but myself and other Aspies here have done it so you can too. Quitting won't help - this situation or one very like it will arise again.

It'll probably sound corny, but these are the parts of life that I call "growing pains" - life throws challenges at you and it's only by pushing yourself through the discomfort, or pain, that you grow into a stronger, wiser person.

One thing a few decades of working has taught me is that business has fashions, just like clothing.

Right now, my company (well, I'm a contractor, but you know what I mean... is into an 'openness' (is that a word?.. kick, and is redesigning the entire campus into more 'open' cubicles, where everyone can see everyone else, and also the bosses can see the employees, and vice versa. It's supposed to increase productivity, raise employee moral, and improve sex lives, for all I know..

If it's that much of a problem, consider some possible alternatives. If it's that much trouble, maybe they could put a laptop in; it takes up less space, and can be moved more easily. I think it sounds like the boss is concerned about attendance? there are good and bad bosses, they either move up or out in time.

I don't know about letting them know about the diagnosis. Check with the EEOC (if you're in the US, or appropriate agency for employment in your country) first. Some states (like mine) have what's called a 'right to work' law, mainly for keeping unions out (whole 'nother story), but the upshot is that you can be fired for any reason, or no reason at all. Also, check with the people who are making the diagnosis, they should have some information for you. I have 'a reputation for being eccentric' at work, but no one knows about the specifics, except people in a non-supervisory position that I can trust.

I find that if you give most bosses what they're asking for, and a little bit more, they leave you alone.

Hey that's okay if you're really high-functioning, but a lot of us aren't so we do need some concessions. I'm sure all that wolfpup is asking is that the computer not be moved all the time. If that's all it takes to ensure a happy worker, it's cheap at the price. Of course, I think we have far more civilised and progressive attitudes towards our workers here than in the USA and much of this is thanks to our unions.

WONDERFUL. I just had this....PERSON...who's been for some reason treating me HORRIBLY all year in a variety of instances pick up a check from me...and while doing so said "I see you're hiding behind your computer again" or something like that. UNBELIEVABLE.

I should have guessed it was her...again...complaining about me. Who else would it be?

She continues to act like our time isn't important, or we have no say in things just because she has a better job, and has on at least a few occasions flat out MADE UP STUFF (like that I wasn't doing something she had asked-never mind that IF SHE ASKED, I NEVER HEARD IT).

I'm creeped out just having to be in the same room with her at this party yesterday. Most everyone else here I like, and I could happily randomly babble about tech stuff with the people at my table yesterday, but then I have to have my stress level go th rough the roof because of this ONE PERSON.



Oh well, I'm just going to try to not think or worry about it. I'll just try to deal with it if I get fired.

I didn't see most of these responses until now-I guess I accidentally deleted the email about them or something.
I'm pretty upset and mad right now, so gloves off

I can definetly see where your coming from and I find it rediculous that the desk keeps moving back an forth so many times when its obvious that shes the one moving it back at the end of the day.

instead of playing back and forth mind games as a boss she should have confronted you face to face since by having to continually move the desk back to your uncomfortable zone she must realize that you are having some serious problems with being viewed in that range

at that point you would be able to easier explain to her the circumstances about how you are able to get the job done fullly from where your desk was before

I wouldn't want to be in the middle of everyone either all day at work I would go crazy so I know how you feel Gl and your pretty smart so I doubt they would fire you over this hopefully your guys communication barrier is lifted maybe you can buy her some starbuck drink an try to break the ice a bit thats one my comrades used to do with our female boss although it didnt help much she was still kind of strict an annoying

If it were me, I wouldn't want to buy her anything but rat poison but that is a bit mean. Seriously, there is nothing wrong with wanting some reasonable concessions, such as having privacy in the workplace.

Just about anybody would feel irritated and uncomfortable if their desk and computer arrangement were changed by another person after they left work. It's very rude of this woman to do such a thing without consultation and with no particular rationale.

To the people who said mean things to Wolfpup, I know empathy is not the be all and end all in life, but a little compassion would never go astray. Would you like the same kind of inconsideration applied to you? I don't think so. In that case, why not give Wolfpup a break instead of making cruel comments?

You have to do what your boss wants. You may not like it, but the only other choice is to be fired. It's that simple.

That's ridiculous. They've got a duty of care to consider their workers' privacy and comfort. He could have had his computer set up ergonomically and the boss shifting it might have made it unergonomic and therefore set him up for back, neck, or shoulder injuries.