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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
This post may include affiliate links.
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#2
NsG 3 years ago
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)
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.
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
Laura Gillette 3 years ago
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??
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.
#12
Ömer Kadir 3 years ago
you should quit after this conversation, this kind of boss should not presence around humans
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
Peeka_Mimi 3 years ago
I was fired for stealing. I didn't steal a damn thing. Their cute little blonde new accountant did. Fire the Chicana I guess.
#17
Kim Contreras 3 years ago
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.
#22
YetAnotherSarah 3 years ago
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?
#26
Skeeter 3 years ago (edited)
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.
#27
Na Schi 3 years ago
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.
Donkey boi 3 years ago
No, I disagree... bondage gear and glitter bikinis should get equal representation.
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John Smith 3 years ago
I had the reverse, I didn't wear jeans as I find them uncomfortable to sit in the office in. Got told I was not a team player. Apparently the correct response isn't "what f*****g team, you won't hire anyone else"
Janet Graham 3 years ago
What a croc! Does it say that in the employee handbook. Must have worked in this position for 25 years before you can have denim friday!
#29
Linda Lee 3 years ago
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".
#30
Janet Graham 3 years ago
Herding kids is a ton of work and it is all physical. Driving only hurts when you stop hard.
#31
Donkey boi 3 years ago
I want a unicorn on my bill!! Why do I never get a unicorn on my bill????
#32
Gin. No tonic 3 years ago
I guess it depends which finger you're using to push up those glasses.
#33
Tobias Reaper 3 years ago
thats just bloody stupid let me guess good old USA ironic they call it land of the free when its anything but
#40
Lazy Panda (she/her/hers) 3 years ago
I appreciate that they name and shame the offending employer.
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#47
Amanda Rose 3 years ago
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.
#48
Jo Johannsen 3 years ago
Sighing is my "regroup" default when facing a task I'm not sure how to handle. Has gotten me in trouble, too.
#49
Claire 3 years ago
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.
#51
Kate Jones 3 years ago
Good. And if you could prove that was why you should think about a lawsuit. I will never understand hating gay people but more than that, why can't you just hate them privately? As crazy as that sounds, at this point I'd almost be okay with that because I'm so tired of this ridiculous, unproportioned and irrational hatred. You'll be talking to someone who seems normal and you mention you have a gay friend or something and they start swearing like sailors and saying they hope they die in the most horrific ways. These people should come with a notice on their foreheads so we know they're crazy and stay away. Like a quarantine around them. Why does your opinion have to be mine? Why do I have to follow some arbitrary rule of yours because it's what you want but I'm not afforded the same right? If she had a little trump 2024 pin or a confederate flag pin or something I wonder if she'd get the same warning?
#52
Leslie Harris 3 years ago
they probably thought you were going to be out for 2 weeks not 2 months
#53
Sergy Yeltsen 3 years ago
Good. Glad to hear it. That sort of powerplay b******t is nothing short of disgusting.
#54
InvincibleRodent 3 years ago (edited)
So this person got fired... for having been fired. That's... you can't make that up, lol.
#58
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Tobias Reaper 3 years ago
why do morons come out with stuff like this how can they speak for others saying it will distract them just because the person who told them was a nonce dont mean everyone else is
#67
Sergy Yeltsen 3 years ago
And yet more proof that HR does not exist to help employees, it exists to help the company.
#68
B 🇺🇦🇨🇦 3 years ago (edited)
Oh this would anger me. I do a lot of design work at my job and I HATE when coworkers have no respect for why I do the design things I do. (“Can you make the fine print smaller?” No. “These colours look weird” they’re literally the brand identity colours you chose. “Can we make this font more fun, like comic sans?” No, it’s not the right font for this project. And my personal favourite, “can you like, make it pop? Idk what it needs but just like, make it POP!” Etc etc all day every day.)
#70
Donkey boi 3 years ago
For goodness sake woman! This wonton hussy behaviour needs to be nipped in the bud! It start with the shoulders, next it will be the wrists, and before you know it well be seeing bare ankles all over the place!
#73
Kate Jones 3 years ago
We had a guy work in a hot restaurant with us who never wore deodorant and he....'stunk' isn't even the right word. It's was like a war crime, and we really needed our boss to talk to him about it. I understand some people have issues with using deodorant but maybe working in 100 degree heat on a grill with food isn't the job for you. But that wasn't even the issue for him; just didn't like to. Basic hygiene is and should be followed when you work around other people. I don't care what your customs or preferences are. You can't necessarily control a fart, lol, but if you have such a problem that you're farting away the day and your co-workers are dropping like flies behind you, maybe a doctor is necessary. Or those fart underwear they sell to block smells and noises.
#74
Tobias Reaper 3 years ago
its ironic that people who feel the need to actually state I'm more diverse or I'm not racist or I'm a nice person usually are i mean if you are a nice person you dont need to state it you show it with how you behave same with if you not racist or if you have a diverse work place
#75
Cherreka Wirth 3 years ago
Ya, I kinda think this one is in rhe right. That's inappropriate, and can lead to the teacher having a relationship with the student that is not appropriate.
#76
Laura Ketteridge 3 years ago
Why on earth would an employee call every day they are unable to work after illness/surgery? Give them a date you expect to be able to return to work, and if the date looks like it needs to change, then let the company know as soon as possible.
#83
Kate Jones 3 years ago
I think Wal Mart works by a point system, right? Like, it doesn't matter what you're out for (sickness, celebrations, etc) it counts as a point and you get 3 points per year or else you're fired (you can't use vacation time for call outs, I guess). At least, that's what someone told me. She said her mother died and she fought with the store manager about how our state allows up to 3 days for bereavement legally that doesn't count toward your points and you don't have to use your own vaca time. Her boss legit fought with her about so she spoke to HR and they had to talk to the boss who had no idea. She'd been deducting points from people for funerals. It was nuts. Part of me likes a point system because it takes away the manager letting things go for too long making others pick up the slack, and there's no favoritism--the pink slip comes from corporate after point 3 and that's it. But to have to fight because the manager doesn't understand her job is ridiculous.
#84
Cactus McCoy 3 years ago
It is. Yet funny. Will steal. Not everything has to look 109% professional as long as it does its job 100%.
#90
alwaysMispelled 3 years ago
Yeah the dress codes for clinicals is strict but they lay it out for you before hand. Shouldn't have worn the earrings.
#93
#95
Enigma wrapped in a paradox 3 years ago
I didn't realize that orange vests can stop bullets.. good to know 👍🏻
#99
Sewanee Citizen 3 years ago
I don't think your boss should have made you do dental work for them. Implants are challenging even if the teeth aren't so large.
#100
B 🇺🇦🇨🇦 3 years ago (edited)
This happened to me while I was trying to clean up baby vomit at a table during a Mother’s Day brunch! I just pointed at the back of the restaurant and said “head that way, you can’t miss it” and the customer left a written complaint that I didn’t walk her 4 year old daughter to the bathroom for her so she wouldn’t miss the hockey game 🙃
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Tony Pott 3 years ago
Got to say, this guy is not the saint he thinks he is.You just can't have people using in shelters, no matter what. If they can use, they bring in their gear, and another addict steals it and people get killed. Tough to have to kick someone out, but there it is. OP is probably better suited to a less demanding environment.
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Ellie McGrath 3 years ago
Wouldn’t matter what colour you put in that sentence it’s still offensive
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What do you think ?
Ozacoter 3 years ago
I got seriously yelled at once because supposedly the day before I didnt lower the blind in the window of the changing room. Not only I was not working that day but nowhere in my contract said that I was the only person in the entire company responsible for that blind. The woman was obsessed with me for some reason and kept looking for excuses to complain about me.
Ozacoter 3 years ago (edited)
Another time in a dutch rescue centrum where I worked I got lectured because we run out of raisins to fill some toys that we used to give to our primates. So i used pop corn instead. We were allowed to give them popcorn, that was not the problem. The problem is that the "instructions" for that toy said specifically to use raisins so we werent allowed to use anything else. The "toy" was a log with holes drilled in it to put the food inside.
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Mad McQueen 3 years ago
Was fired from a HD in town because I found out they were manually adjusting payroll punches (cutting my hours), and taking money out of my check to pay for something someone else stole from a sealed package that was being shipped out. They were shipping. Opened the box. Stole from it. Sealed an sent to supplier. Since it was short and didn't match my invoice it was billed to the company. Who billed me. Luckily I had the duplicate and then called the state employment agency to refund my money. Only for stole item not payroll theft. Then was terminated next day. The emp agency guy was bribed to drop the payroll issue an close the case by getting a trike motorcycle. The day he picked it up in drove it right into the garage bay door an totaled it. Karma 1. Then a month later the bank came and locked the place down for bankruptcy. Karma 2. The owner was found to have been funneling money from the company to his mayor campaign in a diff city. Karma 3.
GirlFriday 3 years ago
I got written up at work because I make really good meatloaf. Four of us were sitting around a table talking and one woman, who is not originally from America, said her husband wanted meatloaf and she had no idea how to cook one. I said that my family loved my meatloaf and I would share my recipe. This offended a woman at another lunch table, and she went her boss and said that I was being offensive in the lunchroom. When I asked how offering to share a recipe was offensive, I was told that I needed to be more sensitive to others around me - no other explanation was given. The offended person then went to the woman whom I shared my recipe with and gave her HER recipe stating that it was way better than mine, and I cannot go around saying that I made the best meatloaf anymore. I honestly didn't know I was in a meatloaf competition. I thought I was helping someone new make a nice American meal for her American husband.
Mrs. Jan Glass 3 years ago
That is some serious insecurity! And I would LOVE your meatloaf recipe!
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Mrs. Jan Glass 3 years ago
I got yelled at for "unprofessional" behavior when I'd taken a medication that made me sick. I was puking every fifteen minutes and couldn't function, but when I called in and explained, the manager got snotty. "Well, that's very unprofessional behavior, especially during the holiday season." When I pointed out that I didn't have a bad reaction by choice, I was told that I "should have made better decisions" about starting new meds. I hung up, and ghosted the place.
Kate Jones 3 years ago
Lol, hold on let me take out my crystal ball and my Ouija board try to divine whether or not my meds are going to get me sick. I don't know why this reminds me of guys who think you can 'turn off' a period (can't you wait until next week? can't you turn it off?), but it does.
Load More Replies... Kate Jones 3 years ago
I was talking to a woman I worked with and I made the mistake of mentioning my grandparents were Jehovah's Witnesses (I am very much not, she very much was). From that moment, everything she said to me was about having faith and 'if only you could see the truth'. I don't have a problem with religion except when it's being forced on me or I'm being preached to. One of my co-workers mentioned how this women had left a Watchtower on her desk and she felt weird but she threw it out and we just giggled about it-no biggie. Later that day my boss pulls me aside and warns me the woman overheard us and was offended and I'm like...well maybe someone should talk to her about constantly pushing religion on people. Every time anything went wrong, even little things, it was because we didn't believe in "the truth". Someone died and her response was 'you should be happy they aren't living in this world anymore.' Or she'd leave Watchtowers on desks. Ugh. Why do I need to be talked to again?
Mrs. Jan Glass 3 years ago
I've started reporting/filing complaints about overtly religious c**p in the workspace. It is not appropriate to tell me you're praying for me, and it is REALLY not appropriate to include prayer in any way at work. It is not appropriate to ask me what "church family" I belong to. I do not want to hear how important your faith is to you. Much like the details of your sex life, or your health, these are not things you share in professional environments unless under specific circumstances.
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DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
There were a few for me 1. Our department got in trouble because we would all gather in one cubicle at lunch and eat so they made a no huddling rule. 2. I got in trouble for wearing shorts...I worked on a fish farm (in and out the tanks) and its 35°C.
Saara-Elina Kaukiainen 3 years ago
I once got a written warning for wearing odd socks with a uniform. The funny thing is that I was also wearing company issues black safety shoes. I said hell no and called the union. The boss in question was not allowed to speak to me anymore without a representative present. Yes. He really disliked me from the start.
BluEyedSeoulite 3 years ago
I got multiple complaints that I didnt say hello or smile at 2 workers. I stopped after they looked directly at me and ignored me multiple times. I'm not going to play your ageist ego games, sorry not sorry
Indigojinn 3 years ago
Three days into working in a British international school I was brought into the principal's office. Been a teacher for 30 years and never experienced this. He demanded to know why, in a 'getting to know you' session with my Year 13 (17 year olds) tutor group I had told them that my family is mixed race. He repeatedly wanted to know what my 'motive' was. This white English man then claimed he was not racist but that the parents of our students (in Malaysia) would not understand.
Bettie-Jean Neal 3 years ago
Many jobs ago, when I was about 20 years old I was a bookkeeper for a small family owned gas company who sold acetylene and oxygen tanks, just to name a few products. The office was me, the parents, some pregnant chick who took phone orders, and their son was mainly did sales. Dad slept in his office and Mom just yelled at everyone to do their damn jobs. One day lunch time rolled around and we always ordered from the deli across the street. Mom placed the order, buying lunch for us for some bizarre reason. She orders Italian hoagies (that come with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions). I, ME, gets yelled at for stinking up the office with onions, by the woman who placed the order! All the hoagies had onions, but she singles me out. I quietly continue to eat, ignoring her, and get the day's deposit ready. I drove to the bank, made the deposit and went home. I never went back and was in the middle of payroll. Good luck b*tches.
Brian Shelley 3 years ago
I got fired from a job for only taking 28-29 min lunch breaks instead of the full half hour. I basically got fired for around 7 min of OT over a 2 week pay period.
Velocity Raptor 3 years ago
I had a patient's adult daughter call to complain to my boss which ended up in my personnel file-- apparently I sat/kneeled on her beanie babies while administering emergency care to her father.
Monica Pryts 2 years ago
That's sad that she was more worried about her Beanie Babies.
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DeoManus Argentem 3 years ago
Worked at the biggest car rental company in the world. Was chewed out for allowing a female employee (who has four kids) to install a child seat in a car for a clueless new father. Was told, "only a manager can do that for liability reasons." Now, I get that, but I have ZERO kids, nor was I ever trained in how to properly install a seat... Who would you rather "install" it for your kid?!
Mike Beck 3 years ago
I'm not completely clear here on one thing: YOU are a manager?
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Marcus Lynch 3 years ago
I unblocked a fire door once and spent the next 6 month's dealing with the rabid manager who blocked it trying to fire me for making him look bad. He ultimately got fired instead. BuBye Kurt!
DramaDoc 3 years ago (edited)
In 2006, I decided to go back to school for a Master's. Artistic Director of the theatre I was working for found out and *DEMANDED* I tell him which schools I was applying to. When I refused, he fired me. Found out he had a history of "cleaning house" and had promised my job to a kid less qualified than me. I sued and they settled. Finally went back to school in 2009. F*ck "At Will" states.
InvincibleRodent 3 years ago
This one is recent, but still baffling. I was last out, and when leaving for the day, I had closed all the windows, as per instruction. But I didn't close them HARD ENOUGH. These windows are 40+ years old, and close with levers that turn 90°. But, they're so old and tight that I *physically cannot turn it all the way even with all my body weight* (will not wiggle loose), so I only turned them 60°, which keeps them shut all the same. This was a two-day conversation. A middle manager (who is not my boss) complained to my boss about it TWICE. That the windows were shut, but not shut ENOUGH.
maria watson 3 years ago
Got fired from a spa I had worked at for 2.5 years during the pandemic because I changed the music. No offense to the artists, but clients don't want to listen to loud pop music while they receive a skin care treatment. I felt like I was being held hostage in a 'Forever 21' store 10 hours/day. Also, when I asked for a raise (after my one year anniversary) the owner told me " you can give yourself a raise by selling more" F&@K that place
Mark Walsh 3 years ago
Happened recently - Working in a Fruit n Veg store, binned some apples that were way way past it. Manager comes in the next day, makes us pick the apples out of the bin, bag them, price them and put them back on the shelf 🤮 This happens constantly - I'm currently working out my notice.
Amy Taylor 3 years ago
This makes me incredibly grateful for my boss.. we were at work (on a TV show set) and my husband called to tell me our beloved dog had collapsed and he was rising her to the vet. I burst into tears and my boss asked what was wrong. I just said "Ruby" and he told me to drop everything right there and go to her. I was able to hold her while she died and I will never forget that. He is an angel of human being.
Mark Forcyth 3 years ago
Was working a second job evenings and weekends as a server in a restaurant. Late one night while at home, I got a call from the owner/manager asking me where my cash & receipts were. I said, "I swear, I put it in the vault in the floor of the accountant's office downstairs like I always do." He came back with, "uh we found an uncoiled wire coathanger down there." I didn't elaborate how the restaurant basement always had young male and female teens hanging around down there, at all hours. I was fired. About three months later I read in a local paper that the owner had been charged with some unsavory offences, including serving drugs and alcohol to minors!
naked ravens 3 years ago
Manager called me out because my "desk was too tidy" ... she was adamant that I couldn't be doing my job properly because my work area was neat and everything stored in drawers or trays. Actual WTF moment
ButterflyMcQueen 3 years ago
I got called into the office today for refusing to sit at a table with a coworker who has a history of causing trouble for me, and I promised my boss I would stay away from her and not speak to her. I guess he didn't remember that conversation because he said I put him in a bad spot and also hurt her feelings 🙄
NY Redneck 3 years ago
Used to work in an international airport in NY. Walked in on my boss having sex in a supply room with someone who wasn't his wife. It was his wife's brother. I believe everyone has a right to make their own decisions and live their own lives. Unfortunately he was worried that I was going to out him and give his wife ammo to divorce him and take everything, so I was apparently let go. Showed up the next day and my security card didn't work. Was told it was because I had been working too many "unapproved" overtime hours. The hours hadn't been "approved" but the flights were still scheduled to arrive with no one else on shift... 🤨 Riiiiiight..
Samantha 3 years ago
I got an Article 15 once (military punishment, goes on your record, can include lost pay and/or rank) because I cursed. At myself. I had just totally bombed a 2 mile run and my commander heard me say a bad word, so he wrote me up for insubordination, saying I had cursed at an an NCO who was standing at the finish line.
Al Christensen 3 years ago
Sometimes I think most of the courses in business schools are about how to be a nitwit and/or @sshole and still get a management job.
Steve Kenney 3 years ago
Maybe I'm the bad guy here and I'll admit most of these are stupid reasons for getting fired. However some of them are legitimate reasons, like making a weed pipe out of carrot while you're at work or not kicking out a homeless person for using drugs in a shelter as just two examples. Sometimes IT IS your fault.
Timmy Pillinger 3 years ago
I don't think these companies would like me... "do we count the abbotiors among our steakholders?" (got a groan).
Sharon Ammons 2 years ago
I was working customer service in a mall. A lady came up to me and asked if I had a band aid. She had cut her finger. I went around the other side of the counter to get her one, and my boss started lecturing me about it. Boss: "You can't give her a band aid!" Me: "Why not? She's cut her finger and we have plenty in the first aid kit." Boss: "Because that's giving her medical treatment. And I already told her she couldn't have one." Me: "Well, I just told her she could. Also, would you rather she was bleeding all over the food court?" Yup, I was working in customer service and got yelled at for doing good customer service by helping out a customer who was bleeding.
Monica Pryts 2 years ago
A few weeks after a colleague quit, we got a call for him at the office. I got in trouble for telling the caller that he no longer worked there. Apparently I was supposed to lie about his whereabouts.
Remington Greer 3 years ago
Got sent to HR for "being condescending" Years before COVID, we were implementing work from home in my department. our training included learning how to connect to the company VPN, which was only necessary outside of the office network. We tested all our WAH equipment in office to confirm we were familiarized with it. first day of work from I forgot my 2 factor auth code that was needed as part of connecting to the VPN. So I go in to the office, flustered because of messing up my first day at home. Anyways, a coworker that I've clashed with since day one asked for help saying she couldn't connect to the VPN (she wasn't ready to go home yet, hence being in office). I said you don't need to connect in building since you were connecting to the internal network. She didn't like my response and sought a second opinion on my boss, who said "if you had taken the wah training, you would know." Queue speaking to HR who definitely thought it was ridiculous. And told me to watch my tone
RowdieAngel 3 years ago
of course i'd gotten this job after being fired for calling the abuse hotline when the previous assistant director hit one child and threw a chair at another. suddenly they "couldn't afford me" .... my first week. and saw the same job listing the next day (they knew it was me because DCF interviewed everyone out in the open)
RowdieAngel 3 years ago
I wonatioch a national chain that has a Childcare Network of facilities across the state. I got in trouble for encouraging a co worker to call the abuse hotline because she was telling me she witnessed something. we are mandated reporters, by the way. the REGIONAL MANAGER OF THIS CHILDCARE NETWORK of facilities told me that I was creating a hostile working environment and that since someone else overheard me say "ive called the abuse line before and i'll do it again in a heartbeat" she didn't want "her girls" to feel they can't trust me. Regional director of a Childcare network of facilities sanctioning me for .... following the law.
Kirsten Kerkhof 3 years ago
I got told off because I stood too straight. Apparently good posture made you look proud.
InfectedVoiceBox 3 years ago
In my teenage years I worked for a sales company, hacked into the phone routing system and directed myself all of the juicy calls. I got caught and still wasn't fired (though I absolutely should've been).
Sarah Lewis 3 years ago
Worked as an advisor in service department at car dealership; was written up for "fraternizing" with a heavy line tech. That fraternizing was not accepting his offer to go on a date. TF?
Talitha Jansen 3 years ago
It's kind of baffling for me to read these post, living in the Netherlands. USA sounds like a terrible place to live if you read the Bored Panda posts. Yet most TV shows, movies and even Americans are all Yay USA.
Mrs. Jan Glass 3 years ago
We'd been away for about 5 years, and came back recently. It's gotten even worse, and it wasn't a barrel of joy to begin with. Too many simple-minded mouth-breathers who think their beliefs are more important than, oh, actual facts. Not to mention anyone else's beliefs.
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Ozacoter 3 years ago
I got seriously yelled at once because supposedly the day before I didnt lower the blind in the window of the changing room. Not only I was not working that day but nowhere in my contract said that I was the only person in the entire company responsible for that blind. The woman was obsessed with me for some reason and kept looking for excuses to complain about me.
Ozacoter 3 years ago (edited)
Another time in a dutch rescue centrum where I worked I got lectured because we run out of raisins to fill some toys that we used to give to our primates. So i used pop corn instead. We were allowed to give them popcorn, that was not the problem. The problem is that the "instructions" for that toy said specifically to use raisins so we werent allowed to use anything else. The "toy" was a log with holes drilled in it to put the food inside.
Load More Replies... Mad McQueen 3 years ago
Was fired from a HD in town because I found out they were manually adjusting payroll punches (cutting my hours), and taking money out of my check to pay for something someone else stole from a sealed package that was being shipped out. They were shipping. Opened the box. Stole from it. Sealed an sent to supplier. Since it was short and didn't match my invoice it was billed to the company. Who billed me. Luckily I had the duplicate and then called the state employment agency to refund my money. Only for stole item not payroll theft. Then was terminated next day. The emp agency guy was bribed to drop the payroll issue an close the case by getting a trike motorcycle. The day he picked it up in drove it right into the garage bay door an totaled it. Karma 1. Then a month later the bank came and locked the place down for bankruptcy. Karma 2. The owner was found to have been funneling money from the company to his mayor campaign in a diff city. Karma 3.
GirlFriday 3 years ago
I got written up at work because I make really good meatloaf. Four of us were sitting around a table talking and one woman, who is not originally from America, said her husband wanted meatloaf and she had no idea how to cook one. I said that my family loved my meatloaf and I would share my recipe. This offended a woman at another lunch table, and she went her boss and said that I was being offensive in the lunchroom. When I asked how offering to share a recipe was offensive, I was told that I needed to be more sensitive to others around me - no other explanation was given. The offended person then went to the woman whom I shared my recipe with and gave her HER recipe stating that it was way better than mine, and I cannot go around saying that I made the best meatloaf anymore. I honestly didn't know I was in a meatloaf competition. I thought I was helping someone new make a nice American meal for her American husband.
Mrs. Jan Glass 3 years ago
That is some serious insecurity! And I would LOVE your meatloaf recipe!
Load More Replies... Mrs. Jan Glass 3 years ago
I got yelled at for "unprofessional" behavior when I'd taken a medication that made me sick. I was puking every fifteen minutes and couldn't function, but when I called in and explained, the manager got snotty. "Well, that's very unprofessional behavior, especially during the holiday season." When I pointed out that I didn't have a bad reaction by choice, I was told that I "should have made better decisions" about starting new meds. I hung up, and ghosted the place.
Kate Jones 3 years ago
Lol, hold on let me take out my crystal ball and my Ouija board try to divine whether or not my meds are going to get me sick. I don't know why this reminds me of guys who think you can 'turn off' a period (can't you wait until next week? can't you turn it off?), but it does.
Load More Replies... Kate Jones 3 years ago
I was talking to a woman I worked with and I made the mistake of mentioning my grandparents were Jehovah's Witnesses (I am very much not, she very much was). From that moment, everything she said to me was about having faith and 'if only you could see the truth'. I don't have a problem with religion except when it's being forced on me or I'm being preached to. One of my co-workers mentioned how this women had left a Watchtower on her desk and she felt weird but she threw it out and we just giggled about it-no biggie. Later that day my boss pulls me aside and warns me the woman overheard us and was offended and I'm like...well maybe someone should talk to her about constantly pushing religion on people. Every time anything went wrong, even little things, it was because we didn't believe in "the truth". Someone died and her response was 'you should be happy they aren't living in this world anymore.' Or she'd leave Watchtowers on desks. Ugh. Why do I need to be talked to again?
Mrs. Jan Glass 3 years ago
I've started reporting/filing complaints about overtly religious c**p in the workspace. It is not appropriate to tell me you're praying for me, and it is REALLY not appropriate to include prayer in any way at work. It is not appropriate to ask me what "church family" I belong to. I do not want to hear how important your faith is to you. Much like the details of your sex life, or your health, these are not things you share in professional environments unless under specific circumstances.
Load More Replies... DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
There were a few for me 1. Our department got in trouble because we would all gather in one cubicle at lunch and eat so they made a no huddling rule. 2. I got in trouble for wearing shorts...I worked on a fish farm (in and out the tanks) and its 35°C.
Saara-Elina Kaukiainen 3 years ago
I once got a written warning for wearing odd socks with a uniform. The funny thing is that I was also wearing company issues black safety shoes. I said hell no and called the union. The boss in question was not allowed to speak to me anymore without a representative present. Yes. He really disliked me from the start.
BluEyedSeoulite 3 years ago
I got multiple complaints that I didnt say hello or smile at 2 workers. I stopped after they looked directly at me and ignored me multiple times. I'm not going to play your ageist ego games, sorry not sorry
Indigojinn 3 years ago
Three days into working in a British international school I was brought into the principal's office. Been a teacher for 30 years and never experienced this. He demanded to know why, in a 'getting to know you' session with my Year 13 (17 year olds) tutor group I had told them that my family is mixed race. He repeatedly wanted to know what my 'motive' was. This white English man then claimed he was not racist but that the parents of our students (in Malaysia) would not understand.
Bettie-Jean Neal 3 years ago
Many jobs ago, when I was about 20 years old I was a bookkeeper for a small family owned gas company who sold acetylene and oxygen tanks, just to name a few products. The office was me, the parents, some pregnant chick who took phone orders, and their son was mainly did sales. Dad slept in his office and Mom just yelled at everyone to do their damn jobs. One day lunch time rolled around and we always ordered from the deli across the street. Mom placed the order, buying lunch for us for some bizarre reason. She orders Italian hoagies (that come with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions). I, ME, gets yelled at for stinking up the office with onions, by the woman who placed the order! All the hoagies had onions, but she singles me out. I quietly continue to eat, ignoring her, and get the day's deposit ready. I drove to the bank, made the deposit and went home. I never went back and was in the middle of payroll. Good luck b*tches.
Brian Shelley 3 years ago
I got fired from a job for only taking 28-29 min lunch breaks instead of the full half hour. I basically got fired for around 7 min of OT over a 2 week pay period.
Velocity Raptor 3 years ago
I had a patient's adult daughter call to complain to my boss which ended up in my personnel file-- apparently I sat/kneeled on her beanie babies while administering emergency care to her father.
Monica Pryts 2 years ago
That's sad that she was more worried about her Beanie Babies.
Load More Replies... DeoManus Argentem 3 years ago
Worked at the biggest car rental company in the world. Was chewed out for allowing a female employee (who has four kids) to install a child seat in a car for a clueless new father. Was told, "only a manager can do that for liability reasons." Now, I get that, but I have ZERO kids, nor was I ever trained in how to properly install a seat... Who would you rather "install" it for your kid?!
Mike Beck 3 years ago
I'm not completely clear here on one thing: YOU are a manager?
Load More Replies... Marcus Lynch 3 years ago
I unblocked a fire door once and spent the next 6 month's dealing with the rabid manager who blocked it trying to fire me for making him look bad. He ultimately got fired instead. BuBye Kurt!
DramaDoc 3 years ago (edited)
In 2006, I decided to go back to school for a Master's. Artistic Director of the theatre I was working for found out and *DEMANDED* I tell him which schools I was applying to. When I refused, he fired me. Found out he had a history of "cleaning house" and had promised my job to a kid less qualified than me. I sued and they settled. Finally went back to school in 2009. F*ck "At Will" states.
InvincibleRodent 3 years ago
This one is recent, but still baffling. I was last out, and when leaving for the day, I had closed all the windows, as per instruction. But I didn't close them HARD ENOUGH. These windows are 40+ years old, and close with levers that turn 90°. But, they're so old and tight that I *physically cannot turn it all the way even with all my body weight* (will not wiggle loose), so I only turned them 60°, which keeps them shut all the same. This was a two-day conversation. A middle manager (who is not my boss) complained to my boss about it TWICE. That the windows were shut, but not shut ENOUGH.
maria watson 3 years ago
Got fired from a spa I had worked at for 2.5 years during the pandemic because I changed the music. No offense to the artists, but clients don't want to listen to loud pop music while they receive a skin care treatment. I felt like I was being held hostage in a 'Forever 21' store 10 hours/day. Also, when I asked for a raise (after my one year anniversary) the owner told me " you can give yourself a raise by selling more" F&@K that place
Mark Walsh 3 years ago
Happened recently - Working in a Fruit n Veg store, binned some apples that were way way past it. Manager comes in the next day, makes us pick the apples out of the bin, bag them, price them and put them back on the shelf 🤮 This happens constantly - I'm currently working out my notice.
Amy Taylor 3 years ago
This makes me incredibly grateful for my boss.. we were at work (on a TV show set) and my husband called to tell me our beloved dog had collapsed and he was rising her to the vet. I burst into tears and my boss asked what was wrong. I just said "Ruby" and he told me to drop everything right there and go to her. I was able to hold her while she died and I will never forget that. He is an angel of human being.
Mark Forcyth 3 years ago
Was working a second job evenings and weekends as a server in a restaurant. Late one night while at home, I got a call from the owner/manager asking me where my cash & receipts were. I said, "I swear, I put it in the vault in the floor of the accountant's office downstairs like I always do." He came back with, "uh we found an uncoiled wire coathanger down there." I didn't elaborate how the restaurant basement always had young male and female teens hanging around down there, at all hours. I was fired. About three months later I read in a local paper that the owner had been charged with some unsavory offences, including serving drugs and alcohol to minors!
naked ravens 3 years ago
Manager called me out because my "desk was too tidy" ... she was adamant that I couldn't be doing my job properly because my work area was neat and everything stored in drawers or trays. Actual WTF moment
ButterflyMcQueen 3 years ago
I got called into the office today for refusing to sit at a table with a coworker who has a history of causing trouble for me, and I promised my boss I would stay away from her and not speak to her. I guess he didn't remember that conversation because he said I put him in a bad spot and also hurt her feelings 🙄
NY Redneck 3 years ago
Used to work in an international airport in NY. Walked in on my boss having sex in a supply room with someone who wasn't his wife. It was his wife's brother. I believe everyone has a right to make their own decisions and live their own lives. Unfortunately he was worried that I was going to out him and give his wife ammo to divorce him and take everything, so I was apparently let go. Showed up the next day and my security card didn't work. Was told it was because I had been working too many "unapproved" overtime hours. The hours hadn't been "approved" but the flights were still scheduled to arrive with no one else on shift... 🤨 Riiiiiight..
Samantha 3 years ago
I got an Article 15 once (military punishment, goes on your record, can include lost pay and/or rank) because I cursed. At myself. I had just totally bombed a 2 mile run and my commander heard me say a bad word, so he wrote me up for insubordination, saying I had cursed at an an NCO who was standing at the finish line.
Al Christensen 3 years ago
Sometimes I think most of the courses in business schools are about how to be a nitwit and/or @sshole and still get a management job.
Steve Kenney 3 years ago
Maybe I'm the bad guy here and I'll admit most of these are stupid reasons for getting fired. However some of them are legitimate reasons, like making a weed pipe out of carrot while you're at work or not kicking out a homeless person for using drugs in a shelter as just two examples. Sometimes IT IS your fault.
Timmy Pillinger 3 years ago
I don't think these companies would like me... "do we count the abbotiors among our steakholders?" (got a groan).
Sharon Ammons 2 years ago
I was working customer service in a mall. A lady came up to me and asked if I had a band aid. She had cut her finger. I went around the other side of the counter to get her one, and my boss started lecturing me about it. Boss: "You can't give her a band aid!" Me: "Why not? She's cut her finger and we have plenty in the first aid kit." Boss: "Because that's giving her medical treatment. And I already told her she couldn't have one." Me: "Well, I just told her she could. Also, would you rather she was bleeding all over the food court?" Yup, I was working in customer service and got yelled at for doing good customer service by helping out a customer who was bleeding.
Monica Pryts 2 years ago
A few weeks after a colleague quit, we got a call for him at the office. I got in trouble for telling the caller that he no longer worked there. Apparently I was supposed to lie about his whereabouts.
Remington Greer 3 years ago
Got sent to HR for "being condescending" Years before COVID, we were implementing work from home in my department. our training included learning how to connect to the company VPN, which was only necessary outside of the office network. We tested all our WAH equipment in office to confirm we were familiarized with it. first day of work from I forgot my 2 factor auth code that was needed as part of connecting to the VPN. So I go in to the office, flustered because of messing up my first day at home. Anyways, a coworker that I've clashed with since day one asked for help saying she couldn't connect to the VPN (she wasn't ready to go home yet, hence being in office). I said you don't need to connect in building since you were connecting to the internal network. She didn't like my response and sought a second opinion on my boss, who said "if you had taken the wah training, you would know." Queue speaking to HR who definitely thought it was ridiculous. And told me to watch my tone
RowdieAngel 3 years ago
of course i'd gotten this job after being fired for calling the abuse hotline when the previous assistant director hit one child and threw a chair at another. suddenly they "couldn't afford me" .... my first week. and saw the same job listing the next day (they knew it was me because DCF interviewed everyone out in the open)
RowdieAngel 3 years ago
I wonatioch a national chain that has a Childcare Network of facilities across the state. I got in trouble for encouraging a co worker to call the abuse hotline because she was telling me she witnessed something. we are mandated reporters, by the way. the REGIONAL MANAGER OF THIS CHILDCARE NETWORK of facilities told me that I was creating a hostile working environment and that since someone else overheard me say "ive called the abuse line before and i'll do it again in a heartbeat" she didn't want "her girls" to feel they can't trust me. Regional director of a Childcare network of facilities sanctioning me for .... following the law.
Kirsten Kerkhof 3 years ago
I got told off because I stood too straight. Apparently good posture made you look proud.
InfectedVoiceBox 3 years ago
In my teenage years I worked for a sales company, hacked into the phone routing system and directed myself all of the juicy calls. I got caught and still wasn't fired (though I absolutely should've been).
Sarah Lewis 3 years ago
Worked as an advisor in service department at car dealership; was written up for "fraternizing" with a heavy line tech. That fraternizing was not accepting his offer to go on a date. TF?
Talitha Jansen 3 years ago
It's kind of baffling for me to read these post, living in the Netherlands. USA sounds like a terrible place to live if you read the Bored Panda posts. Yet most TV shows, movies and even Americans are all Yay USA.
Mrs. Jan Glass 3 years ago
We'd been away for about 5 years, and came back recently. It's gotten even worse, and it wasn't a barrel of joy to begin with. Too many simple-minded mouth-breathers who think their beliefs are more important than, oh, actual facts. Not to mention anyone else's beliefs.
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