My workplace uses a hot desking system where everyone has to book desks in advance. Bookings open a few weeks ahead and no desks are officially assigned to anyone.
I only go into the office 1–2 times a week. My team day is usually Friday and it’s fairly quiet, so on those days my team (about 10–15 people) tends to book desks in the same area to sit together.
About 6 months ago a new GM (not from my division) started sitting in that area and seems to have become very attached to a particular desk.
A few weeks ago I unintentionally booked “that desk” because it was next to my colleagues and there were visitors in the office, leaving limited seating options. The day before, he messaged asking me to “release the desk.” I politely asked for a reason and whether I could still book in that area (wasn’t sure if the visitors were exclusively using that area) but he never responded so I kept the booking.
The next day I arrived and found him sitting in the desk I had booked. I asked him about it and he said he messaged me yesterday. I asked why he didn’t respond, he said he was busy. I ended up finding another desk on other side of the floor but was annoyed he didn’t apologise or give a proper explanation. I saw that same desk was available in a few weeks time so I booked it.
Fast forward to this week, this Friday I have booked “that desk”. Today I received a message from his exec assistant asking me to “kindly release all future bookings and refrain from booking the desk he usually books”. Her justification was that as part of the leadership team he needs a desk with a screen that faces away from the rest of the office.
The thing is, it’s a quiet day, so there are multiple desks on the other side of the floor that would meet that requirement. Also, desks aren’t officially assigned, and again this is where my team is sitting.
So AITA if I don’t release the desk this time and just keep the booking?