Why Are Some Employees Obsessed With Their Office Chairs?
Some employees are obsessed with their office chairs, marking them as their own and even fighting over them. Prevent chair theft with the Office Bantomime 5 Ways Method—because office wars over chairs are real!
The Emotional Attachment to Office Chairs
Do you love your office chair? Believe it or not, some employees have an obsessive fondness for their chair that could be seen as rather disturbing, especially if someone dares to use it—or even worse, steal it.
The Employee's Perspective
From the employee's perspective, if you're seated at the same desk every day with a chair that has been perfectly aligned to your back comfort, you're not going to want to swap it for another. However, it can be frustrating when a co-worker decides to borrow your chair while you're away and, even worse, leaves it abandoned somewhere else in the office. It might blend in with all the other chairs, or someone may have completely taken it to another department.
Marking Territory: The Unofficial Ownership of Office Chairs
Some employees take matters into their own hands by marking their chairs, sometimes even writing their initials on the bottom with Tippex to claim ownership. But when did it actually become their chair? After all, chairs are typically provided by the business for everyone—unless someone has brought their own from home.
Office Wars: The Battle for the Chair
Dangerous conflicts can arise when two coworkers believe the same chair belongs to them. They may argue endlessly, and sometimes, things even get physical. You might witness a tug-of-war with both parties pulling on the chair or, in extreme cases, one person refusing to move while the other attempts to pry them out. But do these individuals have underlying mental health issues, or are they just standing up for what they believe is rightfully theirs? Either way, it's important to remember—it’s not actually theirs.
The Struggle of Losing a Perfect Chair
If your chair is taken, the chances of getting it back to its perfectly moulded fit for your skeletal frame are slim. Worse still, you may not find a suitable replacement, leaving you doomed to suffer backaches for the foreseeable future.
Finding a Solution
HR certainly doesn’t want office fights breaking out over chairs, so the best solution is a clear company policy stating that all chairs are for everyone.
The Office Bantomime 5 Ways Method to Prevent Chair Theft
Try these five methods to deter your colleagues from stealing your chair:
1) Public Awareness – Ensure the entire company knows you have a bad back and constantly talk about your precious chair.
2) Customization – Decorate your chair so that it stands out like a shrine, making it easy to locate if moved.
3) Deception – Stick a label on it that says "Faulty Chair" to discourage theft.
4) Technology – Attach a tracker underneath the seat so you can track it from your phone.
5) Extreme Measures – Ask your line manager if you can take it home every night and bring it back each morning.
Bonus: The classic whoopie cushion might just embarrass someone enough to leave your chair alone!
The Bottom Line
The last thing you want is to get into a confrontation over your love for a chair. If you've tried the Office Bantomime 5 Ways Method and someone still manages to steal it, try to remain civil. There’s no point in raising your blood pressure over an ignorant coworker who takes your chair while chatting with a colleague.
If all else fails, and you’re feeling vengeful, trashing their desk when everyone goes home might just help you sleep better at night knowing you took action!
