How do you politely say, Stop sitting in my chair?

Question

Alright well here's the deal. My boss likes to come over to my desk when I'm not sitting down & sit in my chair. The thing is I have a little person's chair & the max weight capacity on it is 250lbs. And he weights about 425lbs. He sits in my chair spins around in it & even bounces in it. I've watched him do it! I've had to replace my chair 3 times in the last 2 years. He always breaks it. Then the company won't buy me a new one for months & I'm stuck in a broken chair sitting a foot maybe off the ground with my nose to the computer screen. The obvious solution would be to get a sturdier chair however the company will not buy me one. They get the cheapest thing they can find.

How do I tell my boss TO STOP SITTING IN MY CHAIR. (he just broke my new one & I've only had it a couple months!) I've asked him repeatedly to 'please not sit in my chair.' He doesn't listen. Any suggestions would be great! Especially before I start boobie trapping the thing.

I AM HR!! LOL, Sorry it's a small company & he's 1/2 owner of it, he's not my direct boss. I've spoken to my boss about it, he doesnt' know what to do either. The more fustrated I get about it the more he seems to enjoy doing it. He says my chair is bouncy.

WHAT THE!!! Crazy old man.

Answer 1

Put a sign on it saying :

DOES NOT SUPPORT WEIGHT OVER 250LBS!

Answer 2

Lay an open sanitary napkin or out of the applicator tampon (obviously unused) on the chair. I like the purse idea too. If you call the company every day and ask when they are going to replace the chair **John** broke again at your desk maybe they will finally catch on. Maybe you need to trade his unbroken chair with yours. Regardless of his weight, if he wants to sit in your chair.... take his.

Why haven't you gone to your immediate boss?? OR better yet.... Go to HIS boss. What he is doing is harassment and causing a hostile work environment.... you do not have to take this.

You could drag your chair everywhere you go and when people ask, tell them I have to because **John** doesn't know how to keep his hands off things that aren't his.

You could purchase your own chair. Then the chair would be PERSONAL PROPERTY and he would have to stay out of it. If he chooses not too and he breaks it, he would have to replace it with one of equal value. A small claims lawsuit would fix him. Keep a log of everything so when they fire you for "no reason" you can come back with a lawsuit that says you were continually harassed and made to work in a hostile work environment.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

Since the nice, somewhat subtle approach didn't work tell him point blank that you don't want him to sit in the chair because it only supports x amount of weight, you have repeatedly made this request due to the fact that you have already had to replace x many chairs and that if he doesn't stop you'll be filling an official complaint. It may be an office but you still have the right to expect a certain level of respect and understanding.

Answer 4

For a subtle approach, get a nice sturdy chair, and keep it next to your desk. And ask him to use it next time he is in your chair. Or buy yourself a sturdy chair, at least you could use it at home, or sell it when you don't need it anymore.
Tell him point blank, please get out of my chair, it is not a playtoy for bouncing in. After that, if he continues, or smarts off, tell him you have been to the supervisors, and they are aware of his comments about how your chair is bouncy. You would be within your rights to point out that this is an office, full of adults, and his behavior is childish. Also within your rights to tell him that if he bounces in one more chair and breaks it, he will pay for all of them.
Be careful though, and make sure you get the bounce part in your statements, otherwise you might be in trouble, for picking on a fat person,[and he could charge you with harrassment]. And be aware that this might not just be a game to him. He could have other issues, like the occupation of your chair and space is a power statement, he is trying to engage you in a power struggle. Or this might be a job harrassement issue. You are again within your rights to speak to him, or a boss, or PR[never mind, since you are HR] about it. Or maybe it is his way of being flirtateous, the next step, asking you out, or groping, or stalking might not be far away.
And be careful. Have someone in ear shot if at all possible if you have to confront him, so he does not turn your comments into something else.
Don't mean to scare you, but, I have been in similar situations, and it is not fun.
Oh, and I would not booby trap the chair. It would serve him right if it broke underneath him, but if you value your job, don't do it.
And this is a boss? Are you a threat to his power, or does he think you covet his power? Or think you have been undermining it? HMMM...
If the other owner had backbone, all it would take is a hey, quit deliberately breaking equipment, we can't afford it comment.
Good luck.

Answer 5

1. Swap your chair for his and when he questions you about it, calmly say: "Because you broke mine". And then DO NOT get out of it.

2. Ask him to get out of your chair in front of other people...and tell him WHY, but do it "calmly, politely and with conviction". Maybe being fronted in the presence of other people will embarrass him enough to stop.

3. I think you have a passive aggressive idiot for a boss who has the upper hand and knows it. If nothing has worked so far...nothing is GOING to. I don't see any way out of this other than a new job (a new BOSS in this job isn't going to happen).

Answer 6

I agree with the person who said just politely and privately ask him to stop playing in your chair.

However, putting a little puddle of coffee in the center of a pleather covered chair should discourage anyone from sitting in it while you are away from your desk. Just remember to wipe before you sit down. This helped me catch a nosy candy thieving co-worker and gave us all a good laugh.

If you have a cloth covered chair, leave your purse in it.

Answer 7

Next time you get a new chair, tell the people who are buying the supplies that they have to get a better chair, because Mr. Jones always sits in it.

Answer 8

You tell your boss, "Hey, Mr.... "let's say his name is Mr. dick. "Hey Mister Dick, I've been having the "squirts", and I couldn't help it, but I think some of that ozzed on my chair! Gee, I sure hope you didn't get any of my "squirts" on the back of your pants, when you were sitting down there?" I betya he won't be sitting there after you say that to him!!

Answer 9

ok heres what you do


you take him aside and say
"look, *****, if you dont stop putting your fat *** in my chair, im gonna bust a cap so far in your ***, youll be crapping metal for a month"
if that doesnt work try buying him some chocolates and flowers

Answer 10

Talk to HR. Employees have rights and he is violating your rights. He sounds like a total jerk.