Should I request the desk to be cut?

[KingGheedora]

I have to move my desk to sit with my new department. I've worked with them all before but there was some re-org done. I have my pick of any of three desks along the wall. I want to get the corner desk (corner window, the other desks are against the wall with windows along the wall). The corner desk isn't really usable right now -- no one has used it the 2.5 years i've been there, except for contractors once in a while when there were no other seats -- because it doesn't fit all the way in the space due to the window sill not being a square corner (diagonal). The space would stay empty unless the desk gets modified or it becomes one of the last remaining seats in on the floor. I asked to have the desk cut to rest on the portion of the window sill that blocks the desk from being pushed all the way in.

A carpenter gave an estimate of $400 to do the modification. Is it demanding/high maintenance of me to request that my boss pay this just so I can have the nicest seat on the floor? $400 isn't much but am I making a bad impression?

EDIT: Added poll.

EDIT: Sorry everyone who voted, but I had to re-start the poll so that the question matched up with the thread title.

 

[yllus]

Go for it. I'd spin it as "let's make this space usable instead of having it sit abandoned".

 

[hypn0tik]

Pics

 

[RollWave]

I'd do it. Being happy with your workspace contributes greatly to your happiness and as a result to your overall productivity.

 

[Turin39789]

take a bow saw with you to work

 

[slsmnaz]

So you want to have the best seat cause the others aren't good enough for you? Then you want your boss to pay to have this desk altered for you? If it was needed to complete your job then I would think it was ok. Since it's being done on a personal level, the company should not have to foot the bill IMO.

 

[imported_Imp]

What kind of desk is it and how much are you cutting off and reassembling? $400 is pretty steep if you're just cutting it. Bring your own to work or go and buy a $20 one at Home Depot, bring it in, and do it early in the morning or after work. If it isn't nailed to the wall, do some shifting.

 

[KingGheedora]

I honestly don't know why they are charging $400 for this. I could do it in about 20 minutes if I had a circular saw. I can't go cutting up their property though, and I can't bring in my own desk into the office. The desk is pre-fabbed parts, I think made from particle board or plywood or something.

 

[Mxylplyx]

I think you are making a bad impression. You look like a pompous ass in this thread, and you'll probably look like one to your boss. Why should the company spend it's money in order to make sure that you have the "nicest seat on the floor"? Dont approach it with the attitude that you feel you deserve the expenditure. Make it purely about utulization of floor space, and dont let a high priced carpenter do it. Do it yourself, or have building maintenance do it.

 

[KingGheedora]

I don't see how I'm being a pompous ass... other than wanting the corner desk. I actually asked the building maintenance first about cutting it, intending to cut it myself. They brought up the idea that a carpenter would have to get involved, and they called in a carpenter to look at the desk and give an estimate.

So my boss already knew I wanted the corner desk and told the building maintenance to send her the bill. But the maintenance guy happened to tell me the cost instead of her and now I feel kind of bad about the situation (hence this post).

I'm thinking of just paying the whole thing myself and not telling my boss about the $400.

 

[simms]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
I think you are making a bad impression. You look like a pompous ass in this thread, and you'll probably look like one to your boss. Why should the company spend it's money in order to make sure that you have the "nicest seat on the floor"? Dont approach it with the attitude that you feel you deserve the expenditure. Make it purely about utulization of floor space, and dont let a high priced carpenter do it. Do it yourself, or have building maintenance do it.

No way - depends on the company. At my work we can request LCD monitors for the heck of it b/c it increases productivity, order MX revolutions, whatever is required to do the job.

 

[ATLien247]

You could be like a guy I work with. His office had about half of support beam protruding along the wall he wanted to put his desk. So on the weekend he brought in his own tools and cut a piece out of his desk so it would fit flush against the wall. He's "modified" a few other people's office furniture as well, but nobody really lets on about it.

 

[KingGheedora]

On another note, I just realized I'm one of those morons who makes the question of the logical opposite of the the thread title. So I'm not even sure the results reflect what people really think about this.

Of the 5 responses that clearly stated a yes or no opinion) 3 said I should go on with the request, and only 2 said I shouldn't. So that (albeit small small sample) doesn't line up with 66% saying I should not go for it.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: simms

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
I think you are making a bad impression. You look like a pompous ass in this thread, and you'll probably look like one to your boss. Why should the company spend it's money in order to make sure that you have the "nicest seat on the floor"? Dont approach it with the attitude that you feel you deserve the expenditure. Make it purely about utulization of floor space, and dont let a high priced carpenter do it. Do it yourself, or have building maintenance do it.

No way - depends on the company. At my work we can request LCD monitors for the heck of it b/c it increases productivity, order MX revolutions, whatever is required to do the job.

uhhh.. I have yet to see LCD's and MX revolutions as a REQUIREMENT to get the job done. Ok, there are good arguments for LCD's... but the MX... it's comfortable, it's convenient, but REQUIRED, I think not.

 

[stinkynathan]

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
I honestly don't know why they are charging $400 for this. I could do it in about 20 minutes if I had a circular saw. I can't go cutting up their property though, and I can't bring in my own desk into the office. The desk is pre-fabbed parts, I think made from particle board or plywood or something.

If he's a real carpenter he's charging that much because the gig is a waste of his time. Hence he bids high so they won't actually take it and if they do......$bling$ !

 

[soydios]

Screw paying for it yourself...do it yourself.

 

[skyking]

I'd tell them I really want the workspace, and I'll take a comp day later and do it mysef at home. Take it apart, mod it at home FTW!