WIBTA for Refusing to Work at My Desk?
I (33F) work for a family farm with a flexible schedule (mix of office/WFH). My bosses (both 40M) are cousins, and their boss (65M) is the president and FIL of my main boss. I’m not related to anyone.
We have 3 office spaces: two private offices and a shared area with 4 desks (mine, one boss, a remote coworker, and a “community desk” with a dead computer). The president’s wife, “Lyn” (65F) runs an unrelated business but uses our office/software for her business. The community computer died 3 years ago and the new one hasn’t been set up, and I have the most flexible schedule, so she uses my desk when I’m not there.
I don’t mind sharing, but Lyn is consistently disrespectful of my space. Every time she uses my desk, she leaves trash/dirty dishes, takes my supplies, and once broke a sentimental item and threw it away without telling me, which I found and fixed later. My boss knows this has been ongoing but hasn’t done much to fix it. Lyn is also generally rude and doesn’t take feedback well, so I’ve avoided confronting her directly.
On Wednesday, I was WFH when she used my desk. She logged into my computer and closed everything, including an accounting entry I’d spent over an hour on that couldn’t be recovered. She didn’t tell me when she left like I asked her to, so I had to redo it late that night after my kids went to bed.
Thursday, I stopped in and found my desk a mess again, including a used tissue next to my keyboard. I took a photo and sent it to my boss with “Lyn was here.” No response. I know both he and Lyn used my desk again later that day.
Now it’s Friday, I’m back in the office, and the used tissue is still sitting on my desk. I need to be here today, but I’m honestly grossed out and frustrated. After 3 years of this, I feel like I need to set a boundary.
WIBTA if I tell my boss I’ll be working from home until Lyn comes in to clean/sanitize my desk, and that any in-office tasks are his responsibility until then?