Nadia’s office chair slowly sank whenever she sat on it. Her manager said there was no budget for a replacement.
Before her annual review, she took it into his office and sat in the visitor’s chair.
Halfway through the meeting, his chin reached the desk.
He approved a new chair and asked what had finally changed….
Nadia had raised the problem three times.
Her chair began each morning at a useful height. By eleven, she was typing with her elbows beside her ears.
Her manager, Colin, suggested adjusting the lever.
She explained that she had adjusted the lever so often it now felt like a second job.
On her second request, he asked whether the chair was broken or merely old.
It goes down on its own.
But can it go up?
When I’m not on it.
He said that sounded like a temporary problem.
On her third request, she sent a photograph. It showed her eyes just above the monitor.
Colin replied that equipment purchases were being reviewed at the end of the quarter.
Nadia put two old catalogues on the seat. The chair sank under them too, only more slowly.
Her colleague Sam offered a cushion.
She said she was trying to work in accounts, not gradually disappear from it.
Her annual review was on Friday. Colin’s own chair had been sent away to have an armrest repaired. He had emailed asking someone to bring him a spare for the meeting.
Nadia brought hers.
She put it behind his desk, raised it to its full height and took the visitor’s chair.
Colin thanked her for being helpful.
He began by praising her patience with routine problems.
The chair descended an inch.
He adjusted the lever.
Then he praised her ability to find practical solutions.
The chair descended again.
Colin stood, pulled it up and sat more carefully.
Nadia waited.
He moved on to communication. He said problems should be brought to management early, with enough detail to allow sensible decisions.
His chin was now level with the desk.
He looked at the chair. Then he looked at Nadia.
Is this the one in your emails?
Yes.
He stood up, opened the purchasing form and approved a replacement.
Sam passed the doorway as Nadia came out.
You’ve finally got your new chair?
Yes.
How did you get the request up to the right level?
Nadia glanced at Colin, still standing behind his desk.
I moved the problem into management.
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