Message #38250

[elkiedee]

Yes, I hate stuff left on my chair too. I've much less space for new stuff to be left but there is some on my desk, and I can't look at it properly standing up. Some of my fee earner colleagues do prefer stuff left on their chair but I like it where I can
see it and sort through it.

It bugs me intensely when people who can't find anything (usually their own fault) assume you must have it. The people I work directly for are great, and I'm ready to believe it's me if something's missing - when both of them were away I put a file back on the wrong desk and discovered my idiocy when Guy was missing his file. The real problem is the colleagues I've never worked directly for as I don't necessarily get to explain how I work things to them.

The other secretary is having major problems with people turning over her work rootling through it. One guy who she works for, I don't normally, is convinced that we must have buried a file if he can't find it, and I always ask why people think I might have it. It's not rude though I'm sure it gets taken that way, but I don't keep files on my desk for no reason, there's not enough of it for that.

With requests to do something, I always say, please can I have that in writing. Either on a form or by email. I can check back when I have a second to do it, see exactly what I need to do, copy references to other forms if I need to, and keep a record to show what I've been doing all day. I'm sure colleagues think I'm mad doing this when I'm in the same room as them, but my boss made me email her all messages when she was at the desk a few feet away rather than word of mouth or notes and it does work.