An Employee Booked A Desk At Work — And Accidentally Started A Full-Blown Office Feud

A Redditor has found themselves in an unexpectedly territorial office showdown—and it’s all over a desk. Their workplace uses a hot desking system, meaning no one actually owns a spot, and everyone has to book in advance.

The OP only comes into the office once or twice a week, usually on Fridays when things are quieter. On those days, their team of around 10–15 people tends to book desks together so they can actually, you know, work like a team.

Enter a new GM from a completely different division, who seems to have developed a strong emotional attachment to one very specific desk. A few weeks ago, the Redditor unknowingly booked that exact desk, only to receive a message asking them to “release” it—no explanation given.

When they politely asked why, they were met with silence, so they kept the booking. The next day, the GM simply sat there anyway, brushed it off with a “I messaged you,” and offered zero apology.

Annoyed but not defeated, the OP later rebooked the same desk for an upcoming Friday. This time, the GM’s executive assistant stepped in, asking them to “kindly” cancel all future bookings and avoid that desk entirely.

The reasoning? The GM prefers a screen-facing-away setup—but the Redditor points out there are plenty of similar desks available. Now they’re left wondering if holding their ground makes them the villain, or just someone who understands how hot desking is supposed to work.

The OP's workplace uses a hot desking system, meaning no one actually owns a spot.

AI-generated image

Here's the original post by Reddit user u/ala_ko.

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 apologize 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?

Let's see how the Reddit community reacted.

Ja_Lonley

This isn't the hill to die on.

canvasshoes2

ESH.

JeepersCreepers74

It's not worth the fight.

epicfail1994

Policy applies to everyone.

wesmorgan1

You're probably not gonna win this one.

Meloetta

NTA.

spork_master_funk

If he really needs that desk, he should take it up with the big boss.

Bearloom

If he wants the desk, he should book it earlier.

S_Laughter_Party

Pick your battles.

CryptoQuinn2

Let him have his power trip if it means that much to him.

turtlturtl

It's a desk, who cares?

QCfatNugZ

This is really stupid.

Real_Nectarine34

At the end of the day, it’s a shared office—not a game of musical chairs with a VIP section. Still, this tiny desk dilemma has people seriously divided on where professionalism ends and entitlement begins.