Office Swap

[cbrunny]

I had a mini-debate with a friend of mine last night about his situation. He works for a large organization but in a small department. The department shares space with another also small department.

For reasons that are relevant, one of the nice offices in the space just opened up, but it is "owned" by the other department. He says the org as a whole is letting some people go for budget reasons, and this office is vacant for that reason. He knows his job is secure but others in the organization will be losing their jobs through this week, and possibly longer.

Here's the thing. He wants the nice office. He knows he could ask for it now but it would probably be a bit dickish since people are likely to lose jobs still. He knows the office is not likely to be filled for a long time, and will just sit empty. I told him to wait until the layoffs are over and then ask for it. Is there really a reason to wait?

Is this the kind of thing that is heavily dependent on the culture of the office? He would know about that better than I but it sounds like the right thing to do is wait. Yes? It sounds like there is a very real possibility that he won't be allowed to move to the new office either though, since it is owned by the other department. Unclear.

 

[rudeguy]

This is really what people have to think about?

Whether someone else should be a selfish twat while the people around him are getting fired?

"F you I got mine" in action.

 

[cbrunny]

This is really what people have to think about?

Whether someone else should be a selfish twat while the people around him are getting fired?

"F you I got mine" in action.

lol yeah i know what you mean. I told him to wait a bit. I'm guessing that's your advice too?

 

[rudeguy]

lol yeah i know what you mean. I told him to wait a bit. I'm guessing that's your advice too?

My advice is that your friend is a dick and you need a hobby.

 

[Nograts]

If he doesn't ask someone else will. He can reflect on 'what an asshole' he was from his sweet new office at a later date.

 

[cbrunny]

My advice is that your friend is a dick and you need a hobby.

Nah, I'm good.

 

[IronWing]

He should quietly move his excess files into the office, just for storage you know. It's the office equivalent of licking cookies or pissing in the corners to claim future territory.

 

[Belegost]

Is your friend involved in the decisions on who is laid off?

If not, I don't see anything dickish - the office is vacant, someone is going to be placed in it at some point, why not this friend? Chances are good there is already a plan for the office, but there's no harm in asking.

Analogously - let's say you've been wanting to buy a house in a better neighborhood, but the prices are too high for you. Then you happen to see a foreclosure notice for one, and you hear it's because the owner was laid off. Would you be a dick to buy the house at a discount just because of the misfortune of the previous owner?

Truth of life: bad things happen to people. It sucks, but it's inevitable. My rule is, if the bad thing has (or will) occur regardless of what I do, then taking the opportunity to gain something good from it is acceptable (and in fact I would be foolish not to take the opportunity.) The corollary is that if I have reasonable actions that could prevent a bad thing, then I have an obligation to perform those actions, irrespective of what I stand to lose or gain from them.

I feel it's a balanced view.

 

[cbrunny]

To my knowledge he didn't know they were laying off anyone. It seemed to be a surprise to him. Not sure though. He has one of those jobs that no one understands what it is. Like Chandler, except if Chandler didn't do cocaine and was on a good tv show.

 

[rcpratt]

So people have been let go but they're still in their offices?

 

[cbrunny]

Doubtful. He didn't say but I'm guessing they're gone gone & office is sitting vacant.

 

[Rage187]

I would say higher ups already have plans for that space. That stuff comes up in firing discussions: "who gets his office?"

 

[rudeguy]

I would say higher ups already have plans for that space. That stuff comes up in firing discussions: "who gets his office?"

shhhhh

Was hoping for an update when the OP's "friend" went to his boss demanding the office assuming his boss is so stupid that he didn't think about what to do with the office.

 

[Nograts]

Does your 'friend' resemble this guy by any chance?

 

[Printer Bandit]

good news...your friend will get the office.
bad news....he'll get layed off the next day.

you're friend doesn't happen to be named brian?

 

[Carson Dyle]

He's probably not the only one with his eye on that office. It's human nature. It's one of those things where everyone is thinking the exact same thing, but you're a dick if you say it out loud.

The smart move would be to just let it go. If he does decide to be that guy, he should wait until after the dust has settled. But if he knows that there's a good chance he won't get the office in any case, the smart thing to do would be keep quiet and not take a chance on looking like an idiot.

 

[cbrunny]

shhhhh

Was hoping for an update when the OP's "friend" went to his boss demanding the office assuming his boss is so stupid that he didn't think about what to do with the office.

lol yes friend. Not me. I work in PS, where you have to fk up to get fired really.

 

[soulcougher73]

This is really what people have to think about?

Whether someone else should be a selfish twat while the people around him are getting fired?

"F you I got mine" in action.

So he's a republican huh? 😛

 

[BoberFett]

Assertive people get ahead. You may not like it, but that's how the world works.

 

[Puppies04]

I fail to see why he is a "dick". Some people are being layed off, he isn't one of them. From the information you have given he is in no way directly or indirectly responsible for the layoffs.

If it was me I would ask ASAP before some other dick does. 😀

 

[Ns1]

if you're posting this on ATOT someone else has already asked.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Dickery not found. People got fired. The office is not being used. So, ask for it.

Business is business. Anything more (office friendships, etc.) is optional - including keeping up appearances as a good guy, by not asking for an empty office. Or trying to look like someone who is not a dick.

The only image anyone should be worried about at work is how much of an effective and productive employee you are - again, anything after that is totally optional, but not necessary.