Windowless office

[Anonymous]

6 years at the Pentagon. Just recently moved to a space (cube) near a window. First time in 6 years. You get used to going out into the corridors to see if the snow/rain/etc has started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, when I worked for the gov't I always wondered what counsel was doing. I mean, we had a ton of them. Nice to know they were on dcurbanmoms. I always assumed they were looking at porn.

I can understand your confusion. I work a flex schedule, so while I was supposed to be out of the office today (when I posted), I came in to get some additional work done. In short, I was done with my day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Suggestions if I am not allowed to move?

Yeah, deal with it. More political energy goes into office assignments in most organizations than into any other facet of the organization, usually including its primary mission. You were not put there by accident. Don't go whine to the boss.

I think this is probably true. However, they may be testing to see if you push back. I know someone who pushed hard for a window office and got it! So you never know. But at least you don't have to share an office. That, no windows and crappy officemate with no life is way worse IMO.

[Anonymous]

I have and cube, but it is an "end unit" cube, with enormous windows and an fantastic view.
Like other PP, most of the people in my building with an office don't have a window.
I'll take my cube, thank you very much!

[Anonymous]

Why do people care about offices? Just pay me well and give me interesting work. Don't care where I sit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people care about offices? Just pay me well and give me interesting work. Don't care where I sit.

It's a perk. Says where you are in the org. And many people are not paid well and/or do interesting work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people care about offices? Just pay me well and give me interesting work. Don't care where I sit.

Would you like to sit in a badly lit closet all day getting eye strain, working your tail off while others have healthy offices with windows and natural light right around the corner?

[Anonymous]

i would be more concerned that I was among the 2 singled out for the crappy offices than being in the actual crappy office. how secure is your job? does your boss like you?

[Anonymous]

It's a perk. Says where you are in the org.

This is a mistake, like assuming the guy who says nothing is a fool. I for one have never picked office space as a battle and have always had lousy, windowless offices. Right around the corner from the boss's suite. Unlimited access and a fat annual bonus beat sunshine. I can get that outside anytime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people care about offices? Just pay me well and give me interesting work. Don't care where I sit.

It's a perk. Says where you are in the org. And many people are not paid well and/or do interesting work.

At my firm, you need to be making about $500K to get an office. I make $350K and I get a cubicle.

[Anonymous]

At my firm, you need to be making about $500K to get an office. I make $350K and I get a cubicle.

I was at City Hall in New York last year and will provide eyewitness confirmation that Mayor Michael Bloomberg sits in the middle of a cube farm. I wonder if anyone around him dares whine?

[Anonymous]

I like open air offices with desks and low cubicles. Less BS and just listen to your conference calls on a headset.

Doesn't sound like that is an option for OP. I've seen office moves where if your boss didn't stick up for his/her team they all got the worst real estate on the floor. These things are usually political and there is nothing wrong registering your dislike at what was handed out. At least occupy the nearby better vacant office until that person shows up. That's just odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get an aquarium and some hanging ferns. Bring a desk lamp in from home and take the wicks out of the fluorescent lights.

What does this mean? I've never seen a wick on a fluorescent light.

The long, skinny light bulbs in the fluorescent lights are referred to as "wicks". I don't know why. I always take at least 2 of the four out of the lighting closest to my desk because the light is really hard on the eyes and then I plug in a desk lamo and put it on my desk.

It's not a "wick" it's a "tube."

Signed,
a licensed professional in a facilities department who deals with this stuff all day long

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i would be more concerned that I was among the 2 singled out for the crappy offices than being in the actual crappy office. how secure is your job? does your boss like you?

This

[Anonymous]

Hi- I have a lot of sympathy for the originator of this thread. I believe that at least some of us have a legitimate need for natural light and a view of the outdoors. I also agree that it feels terrible to be singled out for a particularly bad space - feels like a statement about our relative status in the organization. I am going through a similar transition in a week or two, and am also having a rough time of it. I understand that others have it worse (as pointed out by some in this thread) and that I should be grateful for my otherwise good job and livable salary, but that somehow isn't helping. I am thinking about lighting, plants, and perhaps a water feature ($$!!), but also working from a laptop in any better location I can find in the building or nearby. In my opinion, the people who design such buildings have not adequately considered the human cost.