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What is a 'bad' desk at work?

Journalist: Jon Brady, Daily Mail

ended 11. March 2025

What makes a ‘bad’ or ‘lesser’ desk in the workplace? I want you, the business professionals of the world, to tell me what you think makes a bad desk after this recent employment tribunal concluded that a worker had been constructively dismissed because he was made to sit at a desk that he felt was 'beneath' him: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14481577/estate-agent-quit-desk-wins-damages.html

Simply put: are there desks that would be ‘beneath’ you, or that you would ahte to sit at, and what would they be like? Are they the ones closest to the loos, or furthest away from the coffee machine? Sitting around junior staff doing less important work than you? Or would it be as simple as the scruffiest looking desk around? Let me know!
 

6 responses from the Newspage community

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David Belle
Founder and Trader at Fink Money
I think this story says less about what a lesser desk is and more about the absolute love of victimhood and desire to have everything you want, coupled with legislation that protects these factors. Ultimately, the worst desk is the desk which makes no money, next to colleagues that you hate and in a job that is mind numbing. Which is usually compliance and or HR.
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Harry Mills
Director at Oku Markets
The idea of a low status desk speaks to a narcissist's view of office life. Top-performers and management should be in and amongst it, not hidden away in corner offices. However, there are poor locations – high-traffic areas such as water coolers, printers and walkways can be distracting, sitting next to the loos is a disaster waiting to happen, and being too close to the kitchen - especially if the office has a phantom tuna microwaver - has both aural and nasal downsides! The best desks provide plenty of team interaction, decent access to the coffee machine and a quick escape route!
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Tony Redondo
Founder at Cosmos Currency Exchange
For me, the dud desk is the one parked next to the loo. Every flush is a grim reminder of your place in the pecking order. Or the sad, wobbly relic furthest from the coffee machine, forcing a marathon trek for caffeine while the “senior” desks hog the brew. A scruffy desk, chipped and stained, screams neglect, especially if it’s shoved in a dim corner with a view of the bins. Back in the day, ‘bad’ desks were just furniture, not a vibe and the only truly bad desk was the one without your name on it, which means you were out of a job!
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Kate Allen
Owner at Finest Stays
There’s definitely a dud desk in our office. It’s right by the entrance, so every time the door opens, the poor soul sitting there gets a horrible breeze straight down their back. They also end up as the default parcel delivery point, which means a constant stream of interruptions. But the worst part? The desk faces away from the door, so whoever sits there has their back to whoever is walking in. It taps into some deep hunter-gatherer survival instincts—no one wants to be the sitting duck who doesn’t see what’s coming. It’s such an uncomfortable feeling that employees have actually brought in a mirror just to be able to see behind them.
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Keith Budden
Managing Director at Ensurety
I've certainly worked in offices where there was a real pecking order in terms of desks. The main office was open plan with glass cubicles around 3 sides. If you were top tier management, you got one of the glass cubicles, for everyone else it was in the open plan area. All was good with this until the Managing Director decided that everyone except him could 'hot-desk' including the cubicles. The result, those who got into the office early claimed the cubicles, "management" could end up having to sit with the "workers" in the open plan area. Needless to say it didn't take long for the management to revolt at this idea and within three months the hierarchy was restored and management reclaimed the cubicles. Can it be petty? Yes. Does it matter? Yes, a happy staff is a productive staff, and that starts from the top.
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Richard O'Connor
Director at First Mats
All office-based employees should expect a minimum standard for their desk and workspace, particularly given that poor ergonomics and inadequate equipment can lead to various health issues. Desk location is undoubtedly important, but not always in the ways one might assume. For instance, seating a senior employee alongside junior colleagues or apprentices can offer significant long-term benefits to the business. In my earlier career, it was common practice for senior staff and apprentices to work closely together, allowing junior team members valuable opportunities to learn directly from experienced professionals. This integrated approach fosters skill development and enhances overall team performance. However, I acknowledge that some companies have a more hierarchical culture, where seating arrangements can reflect status. In such workplaces, desk location and expectations should ideally be discussed openly with employees during the recruitment and interview stages to ensure clarity.