New seating arrangement - male got a cube, female got the bench [closed]

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

I am female. I was hired at exactly the same time another employee who is a man (and we started on the same day). I have significantly more experience than he does. We are the newest hires.

We are in the same general group but on different teams. Currently, we both sit in (seperate) bench-like areas. Everyone is moving to a new building so there's a new seating arrangement. I am in a bench area.

The rest of the group, which includes the team I am on and the other team (including the man I was hired with) all have dedicated cubicles. No one else from the group will be in the bench area with me.

Now... to be honest, I really don't care where I work from. However, it does bother me that he got his own cube and I am in the bench area but in no way do I want to take his cube or anyone else's. Although I feel that no one did this intentionally because I am female, I also believe that it would definitely be different if we were both males. It does kind of affect the way I feel that the company sees me. No one got to make any requests on the new seating arrangement.

Am I allowed to ask how the seating arrangement was made? (meaning, I also don't know how it was made)

I have very good work relationships with my direct supervisor and the man I was hired with.

How should I handle this?

I asked my direct supervisor. He asked someone else (unknown). Turns out, the guy technically started sooner... down to the timestamp. Then he kept trying to figure out how I could get a cube or would be in line next for a cube... I really don't care about the actual cube. I just wanted to know that there was some acceptable, rational reason behind all of it. He also said I was welcome to join him or kick him out of his cube on occasion if I wanted. I also gave the guy I was hired with a heads up that I had this conversation and made note that in no way do I want or was trying to take his cube (just in case if something comes of this later). So... all is well.

manpreet 2 years ago

This is a tough issue. On one hand, there's no overt discrimination. Other women have gotten cubicles, all of them but you. And yet there must have been some criteria to determine who didn't get one, especially since it's not a seniority question either.

I think you need to tread lightly. Obviously, you don't want to have anyone thinking that you believe it's because you're a woman (regardless of whether or not that is actually the case).

There are a number of ways you can handle it but the gentlest (and least likely to cause friction, in my opinion) is to approach your direct supervisor informally and say something like, "So when do I get my cubicle?"

If you can frame it as an issue of equality among peers rather than even giving a hint as far as gender suspicions (again, whether you have them or not) then I think you'll go further toward getting what you want, which I assume is actual equality rather than just lip-service. I would make sure that you ask it as a serious question, with expectation.

Asking "when" before "why me" gives them the benefit of the doubt. "Well, of course you meant to get us all cubicles, because I know you're fair" and can lead into the possible discussion about how the others were selected and not you.