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Part of the enduring appeal of the iconic sitcom The Office has to do with how relatable people found it. From everyday characters to workplace drama, there’s something uncanny about watching the TV drama based on real, unstaged, mundane, often boring work life.

The truth is, if people would open up one day and decided to share their weirdest workplace stories, the chances are they’d make it to the directors cut. Because truth is often stranger than fiction…

This viral thread from Twitter gives us a glimpse into the craziest work stories from people who got into trouble while on duty, and it may well leave you speechless. “Sorry to do prompt Twitter, but what's the wildest reason you've ever gotten in trouble at work?” wondered Montucky Woodsnacks. Sorry not sorry, but Twitter was prompted indeed.

Image credits: tuckwoodstock

#2

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NsG
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it's always worth repeating: FAST - Face (has their mouth or skin dropped on one side); Arms (can they raise both arms to the same height and squeeze with the same strength on both sides); Speech (can they talk coherently and clearly); Time (to call the emergency services - stroke treatment is time crtitical)

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Getting into trouble at work is something we all have experienced, as long as we've had a job. Usually, it’s our mistake and then, we have to take responsibility and draw conclusions, but it can also be something completely different.

While each mistake has the potential for growth and learning, if the reason why you got into trouble is beyond crazy, then there’s probably not much to learn in the first place. It may be due to a toxic team member, a jerk boss, a weird work rule. In that case, you’re probably not living your dream job right now, and the chances are there’s a lot to change there.

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We've all heard of and completed an employee survey. These little questionnaires are designed to tell our employers how we really feel and what we really think, beyond our daily smiles and endless coffees.

There’s a common problem, however, with employee surveys. It’s that although they are made to find out the truth of how employees feel, they rarely do so. And when employers spend the money and go through the trouble of doing a survey, they want to believe that they’re getting the truth about what’s going on. So they don’t accept their workers can be doing something as simple as lying.

#8

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Laura Gillette
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once got chastised for sitting on the floor to stock a floor-level shelf, too. I was like... how else am I supposed to do this??

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In fact, even on customer surveys, some experts suggest that as many as 50% of people are less than truthful in their answers. Human nature is working against the employers. So in order to get the most accurate answers, the employer's mission is to minimize the amount of risk employees feel when they’re asked to take the survey.

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#12

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Ömer Kadir
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you should quit after this conversation, this kind of boss should not presence around humans

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Things like never connecting survey scores to manager ratings or compensation, describing in detail what will happen with the results and doing what you promised to can work wonders. People can feel like they won’t get into trouble for ticking a box to show their motivation at work has been low recently, and that they don’t agree with management's approach to some things.

#13

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Peeka_Mimi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was fired for stealing. I didn't steal a damn thing. Their cute little blonde new accountant did. Fire the Chicana I guess.

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#17

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Kim Contreras
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was 19, going to college,and had to work to stay in college. One night when we were closing the assistant manager at the convenience store I was working at trapped me against a wall and tried to force himself on me. I was prettified. Next day I told the manager what happened. He said he would take care of it. Found out next day I had been transferred to another store almost 20 miles away. Me - not the guy who attacked me.

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#18

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KJ
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All managers should have to spend a month a year working on the shop floor, might make them see things from others perspective.

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#19

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YetAnotherSarah
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fire alarm (lights and sound) in my section of the building didn't work, which I found out during an emergency when all the other alarms were going off but we (my employees and I) had no idea. Smelled the smoke from the roof, opened the door leading to rest of building, surprise alarms! Repeatedly told my boss, was ignored. Guess what I told the fire marshal during our next inspection?

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#26

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Skeeter
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Next time just let the patient code (just as long as no feelings are hurt, that is all that matters, ofc). Then when the family sues for millions, we can explain in court that the only reason they died was because you were told you are too mean the last time this happened.

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#27

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Na Schi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never understood this rightly labeled BS office dress codes. If you have no direct customer contact in a very stiff business you should be able to wear what you like... okay almost everything, bondage clothes or the tiny glitter bikini top might be a little too much/less/over the top.

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#29

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Linda Lee
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My boss would make fun of people who left on time. "Look who's leaving before the job is done". Thing is, the boss didn't pay overtime. He always fired every person for the same reason: insubordination, therefore not eligible for unemployment. Then he would say "nobody wants to work".

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#30

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Janet Graham
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Herding kids is a ton of work and it is all physical. Driving only hurts when you stop hard.

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#31

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Donkey boi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want a unicorn on my bill!! Why do I never get a unicorn on my bill????

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#32

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#33

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Tobias Reaper
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

thats just bloody stupid let me guess good old USA ironic they call it land of the free when its anything but

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#35

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Khavrinen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Four cents?!! You think a corporation can survive losses on that scale???

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#37

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rspanther
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would get busted for that, one paper towel just isn't big enough to get your hands dry. How would you like too shake someones hand after they come out of the bathroom, and the hand isn't completly dry?

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#44

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KJ
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure, when is your funeral, I will gladly attend with my tap dancing shoes on.

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#47

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Amanda Rose
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia). I have it (along with a whole host of other illnesses). It really sucks and it isn't well understood.

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#48

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Jo Johannsen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sighing is my "regroup" default when facing a task I'm not sure how to handle. Has gotten me in trouble, too.

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B 🇺🇦🇨🇦
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You actually need to sigh to stay alive! A big sigh every couple hours helps keep the air sacs in your lungs inflated.

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Robert T
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends when and where you do it. In a meeting in front of customers is probably not the best time....

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Who Panda 420
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have pain issues but we worked in a group home so while I was folding laundry by myself in the laundry room I would sigh. I got written up for it even though it wasn't in front of the clients.

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Strahd Ivarius
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

3 guys a few days ago at a Russian restaurant. The first one sighs. After a few minutes, the second one sighs a little louder. The third one quits the table after saying "I am not there to speak of politics!".

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AliJanx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got screamed at for laughing too much. Then later, I was threatened to be fired if I continued looking for jobs. I continued looking for jobs anyway and ended up in a much better job.

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Nicola Roberts
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

^ see breathing disrespectfully. I'm learning a tonne of passive aggressive skills.

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Stephanie Wittenberg
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me, too. I was reported for sighing multiple times during a conversation in my office.

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Michele Slider
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got in trouble for sighing at work too. I was pregnant, and a maternity nurse, you would have thought they could figure out it was anatomy not attitude!

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Elvis Bellini
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was breathing too loud on the other side of an insulated cubical wall.

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Tim Pierce
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the context. A deep breath could be a sigh. However, if you're making an annoying sigh because you have customers waiting and you're slacking off, I can see that warranting punishment.

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Robert Trebor
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was a typo in the rules. It was supposed to say "No singing". When I was in the Navy we went to Turkey, and the naval base bus rules said "no sighing".

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#49

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Claire
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's like mine. Nursing Unit Manager spoke to me on the first day saying a flower hair clip was against the dress code. I looked up the dress code, it said nothing about hair clips. She had a massive big spiky hair clip herself. She was just trying to put me down a peg. For the next 3 years I wore as many large, bright and colourful hair ornaments as possible. It's a friggin hair clip, it's not going to interfere with me delivering a baby or helping a Mum breastfeed.

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#50

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Na Schi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, had also the pleasure to experience that one - luckily without consequences (much to the frustration of the complaining office member, who btw had an annoying habit of breathing loudly 😂).

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