Couple Worked Harmoniously From Home, But a Computer Monitor Showdown Put Their Relationship to the Test.

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In remote work, shared spaces become battlegrounds for the Original Poster (OP) and their partner. With just one monitor and simultaneous high-stakes meetings, tensions peak as both stake their claim on the coveted workspace. Who gets to use the precious monitor, and at what cost to their relationship?

The Remote Work Setup

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OP works entirely from home, while their partner adopts a hybrid model. They share two desks in their home office – one decked out with a monitor and the other devoid of such luxury. OP’s partner has the means through work to buy additional office equipment but procrastinates.

The Perks of the Job

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OP’s partner is entitled to funding for home office gadgets, including an extra monitor. They did their research and even priced the potential purchases. Yet, for reasons unknown, they never made that purchase.

The Passage of Time

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Almost half a year has passed. The monitor remains a single entity in the workspace. To OP’s annoyance, their partner seems content using the lone monitor, while OP has a non-negotiable need for it.

The Daily Requirement

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OP’s laptop lacks a camera, making the monitor crucial for their online video conferences. Yet, OP’s partner also has work that occasionally demands a second screen. One day, the inevitable occurs.

Clash of Schedules

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Both OP and their partner have essential meetings scheduled at the same time, leading to a clash over who gets the desk with the monitor. OP argues the necessity of using the monitor, especially given that their job provides it.

OP’s Justification

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A crucial meeting with project funders looms, intensifying the stakes. While OP insists on the urgency of their meeting, the partner has their priorities. They, too, have an impending significant meeting with another department.

The Blunt Ultimatum

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OP, driven by the urgency, tells their partner they should have procured their monitor. In the moment, compromise seems elusive. The partner, in response, urges for a momentary solution, believing they can find a middle ground.

Consequences of Procrastination

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OP reiterates that their work pays for the equipment their partner uses, and it is their asset, not the partner’s. The compromise already happened when OP let their partner use the monitor for months.

The Ideal Solution

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Despite the immediate discord, OP acknowledges that compromise is necessary. But they can’t help but think that the optimal resolution would be for their partner to purchase their own monitor.

The Day’s Priority

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For OP, their meeting holds more significance. Expectations from the boss and project partners heighten the importance of being on camera. OP understands that their stand might complicate things for their partner.

The Question of Fairness

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With the entire situation laid out, a single query lingers in OP’s mind. Have they been unreasonable or unjust in their decision? The office technology, given to aid remote work, becomes the bone of contention.

The Partner’s Lapse

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OP insists on using what their employer has provided for work. Meanwhile, OP’s partner, despite having the resources, didn’t invest in the necessary equipment. This oversight becomes a recurrent point of contention in their dispute.

The Essence of Sharing

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Living and working together, the couple frequently shares space and resources. But when essential work tasks collide, the harmony of sharing gets tested. It comes down to mutual respect and understanding.

A Relationship Tested

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As the day unfolds, both OP and their partner grapple with the balance between personal needs and relationship dynamics. OP believes if their partner’s day is harder because they didn’t purchase a monitor months ago, that’s on them.

Was The Worker’s Behavior Appropriate?

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OP posts the story online for constructive feedback and unbiased judgment from the internet community. The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter.

Forum Responds

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One reader said, “It’s your monitor that you were given for work. Your partner should get their own tech. The compromise is that your partner gets to use the second monitor when you don’t need it.”

Another Commenter Thinks

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Another responder wrote, “This should have been figured out as soon as they started using yours. You are always at home for work, so you always need the monitor. Letting them borrow intermittently set this up to be an issue.”

A Third View on The Story

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A different person stated, “Your company has given you that monitor for that specific reason… therefore, you get priority to use it when needed. They should have sorted their own out.”

A Final Perspective on the Matter

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Another reader commented, “They have one at the office, and the company will get one for home. You are fully remote and have a laptop and one separate monitor. Time for your partner to take care of the technology their company is funding.”