You might be thinking that working in a cubicle is the worst type of work space you can be assigned to. Well, you’re wrong. The worst type of work space is the desk in the front of the office. Most offices or suites have secretaries who work in the front, but if you’re like me, you’re lucky enough to be more than a secretary but not quite worthy (that’s right, worthy) of a cubicle and definitely not of your own office. You now understand why April Ludgate hates everything that has a pulse.

1. Everyone thinks you’re the secretary.

Client: “Is Tom in his office?” You’re not sure who this person is, what he needs from Tom, or if it is okay to send him back to Tom’s office. You do know however know that Tom just returned from his post-lunch smoke break, and you don’t want to be rude.

You: “Yes, he is. You can go on back!” You say with a smile. You have no idea what Tom is doing in his office, but couldn’t care less whether someone interrupts his time surfing the internet.

Whether it’s your boss, a client, or other coworkers, people somehow feel you are the person who knows everything going on in the office. You’ll end up trying to come up with answers to questions about what time someone came back from lunch, who was out sick or teleworking, and dozens of other questions that have nothing to do with your daily office tasks.

2. There is never any peace and quiet.

There is no way to drown the noise out. If you’re in a cubicle you can at least pretend not to hear someone since you’re facing away and have your headphones in. In the front of the office, people pass right in front of your computer screen, making them damn near impossible to ignore.

While you don’t have a problem seeing any of your coworkers’ annoying faces, the conversations will really get to you. If you’re lucky enough to be at the desk near the break room, you get roped into conversations. Like every conversation. These conversations have nothing to do with you, or your job responsibilities. In fact, there wouldn’t have been a conversation had you not been innocently sitting at your desk when a coworker happened to receive a rude email on her way to lunch. Privacy is a relic of the past. You never have a minute to yourself. Soon you’ll come to the realization that your 300-square foot apartment is the only recluse you’ll ever have until you finally get that doorless cube you so desire.

3. Everything you do, wear, or say is out in the open.

The front office desk has no privacy. Sometimes, you just need to adjust your pantyhose, put on the rest of your makeup, or sit in an unladylike fashion. You can’t do any of these things when you work in the front of the office. There is no way to close your door so you can focus on that report, call your best friend, and catch up on the latest gossip. Anyone can walk behind your desk on the way to pick up the dieting coupons they’re printing, and take a peek at your computer screen. This isn’t a problem when you’re busy, but on slower days, your Ctrl+W quick draw will be tested.

Your desk isn’t safe either. Desk pictures of you and your friends having too good of a time is simply not an option. You’ll also have to be prepared for a lengthy discussion, and argument, with each male coworker once they see your coffee mug decorated with the fight song of the SEC team you happen to root for.

All in all, it’s a terrible work space. So before you cubicle warriors continue to complain about the shit hole you work in, take a moment to consider the coworker that doesn’t even have three half walls. And forget the Four Types of People You’ll be Cubicle Mates With, because the sucker working in the front of the office is cubicle mates with anyone who walks through the front door.