So at my office there’s this shared desk area. I keep a phone charger plugged in under the desk because the outlets are annoying to reach.One of my coworkers started using it. At first I didn’t care. Then it became an everyday thing. I’d come in and my charger would already be unplugged from my phone and plugged into his. Sometimes he’d take it to another desk and forget to bring it back.Yesterday I asked him if he could stop using it or at least ask first. He laughed and said “relax, it’s just a charger". Later my manager pulled me aside and said I was being “unnecessarily confrontational” and that in shared spaces I should expect people to share things.since I don’t want to make it more complicated I didn’t escalate it beyond asking him once. but now it’s awkward and I feel like I made a big deal over something small but also at the same time I think it was necessary, just wanted to know was AITA?
Sounds like it’s time to keep your charger on your person so that it’s no longer part of the “communal area”.
Take the charger back and don’t use it around them.
Problem solved. If it’s not there, it can’t be an issue.
NTA – stop leaving the charger out, only have it out when you are there and using it.
NTA. Personal property is personal property, shared space or no. And removing it from your work area?? Absolutely not. Your manager probably wouldn’t like it so much if you started using anything they left out on their desk!
There are two assholes here. You are neither of them.
NTA.
Keep the charger locked in your desk when you are not using it.
If the power outlets are hard to reach, either get a short extension cord or power strip to run to the top of your desk.
Him taking your charger to another location is an AH move.
Start keeping the charger in your purse or get a lock for your drawer.
Are you actually away from your desk long enough for coworker to get a full charge? I’d unplug the phone every time I see it plugged in and move it to a different desk.
NTA but time for the charger to stay with you, not plugged in at your desk. Inconvenient, but necessary given your coworker and supervisor.
Get a charger that just attaches to your phone and take the other one away. OR only plug it in and use it when you are there. Take it with you when you leave. Quit leaving it about for him to utilize. Simple.
I think the manager is being unprofessional. Can the dude eat your lunch too? NTA
Nta but I’d probably just take the charger away and only use a cord that plugs into your laptop directly to charge
Take your charger home. Buy a power bank which you charge at home and then use that to charge your phone. When it’s charged, put it in your pocket or purse and take it back home to be charged. Repeat as necessary.
Is this your personal charger? If yes, keep it in your purse or backpack, briefcase, pocket, whatever and only have it out when you’re using it.
Same thing if this is a work phone that came with its own charger. If he’s charging a work phone, he should use the charger that came with it. Same for a personal phone.
NTA, but the way to deal with this is simply to stop leaving your charger in the communal area and instead keep it for yourself (and lock it in your drawer/take it home with you every night so that it cannot be mistaken for office equipment). Then if the manager wants to provide the office with a communal charger cable, he can.