Locked Into Your Pointless Tasks

(One of my tasks consists in ordering stuff in the file room. To enter the file room, I have to cross either Coworker #1 and #2’s room, or Coworker #3 and #4’s room. I’m a very quiet person and I have some social phobias. When I have finished filing I realise I have been locked in. Later, a cleaner is able to help me leave and I go minding my other business. Later, my coworkers are back.)

Me: “Hello. May I have a word?”

Coworker #1: “Sure.”

Me: “One hour ago, I was ordering stuff in the files room and I found the doors locked when I tried to leave.”

(At this point I expect them to say something but they don’t so I try to use my sense of humor to lighten up the mood.)

Me: “I don’t mind too much, actually. It was sort of funny, like being in an old black and white movie, but maybe we should choose a code or something so it won’t happen again.”

Coworker #2: “You’re too silent. That why we forgot about you.”

Coworker #1: “Sorry. We went to have a coffee with [Coworker #3] and [Coworker #4], for once. We didn’t mean to lock you inside.”

Me: “No problem.”

(Then I go to see Coworker #3 and Coworker #4.)

Me: “One hour ago, I was ordering stuff in the files room and I found the doors locked when…”

Coworker #3: “We locked you in?!”

Me: “Yes.”

Coworker #4: “Oh, we’re sorry!”

Coworker #3: “We’re really sorry!”

Me: “No problem, it happens to everyone.”

(Notice that Coworker #2 is the only one who didn’t say she was sorry. The day after, I enter the file room and Coworker #2 gestures at me.)

Coworker #2: “[My Name], I don’t want you to spend too much time in the files room.”

Me: “But I have documents to put into the files!”

Coworker #2: “Take the files you need into your room!”

Me: “Uh? It will make a lot of coming and going!”

Coworker #2: “You don’t have to do everything at once. Take your time!”

(So now my work with the files takes twice more time than before because my coworker doesn’t want to admit that she feels guilty about locking me in the files room!)