I put this in the pit because it bothers me a bit.
How to tell if you are a lowly grunt or if you are a grunt held in higher esteem…
Is your computer facing away from the ‘traffic stream’ or toward it. In other words, when someone walks by or enters your office/cube can they see your computer screen?
If they can see your computer screen, you are a lowly grunt. Don’t believe me? Look at people in higher positions in the company. Umm Hummm… Now, try to position your computer so that it is away from traffic like theirs and see what resistance you get…
I’ve always noticed this but today I’ve seen it tested. Someone in the company moved to a new cube and set up the cube/computer themselves. He set it up to where his screen was away from traffic. All of a sudden, higher ups started popping by and bringing up reasons why his computer should be moved (so that screen faced traffic). They never stated that as a reason but his new space practically forced him to set it up the way he did.
He countered their reasons and stuck to his guns. Just a short while ago, the VP stopped in and told him that he needs to switch it. To me, this was the smoking gun that there is an unwritten policy in the company about this.
Every single person in my company ‘above’ me in level (I am like middle management) has their computer so that entering their area you cannot see the screen.
FWIW, my computer faces ‘sideways’ and I manage an area. Hmmmmm…wonder what would happen if I redesigned my office…worth testing. That way I can find out what they think of me