Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
While workplace gossip and theatricality can be annoying, petty and just silly, when you look at it from a distance, it is also the foundation of one of the most watched TV shows of all time. In case it wasn’t clear, I am talking about the Office. However, the humor of the show only really hit home because so many people could find those moments somewhat relatable.
Someone asked “What’s the worst office drama you’ve ever witnessed?” and netizens shared their stories. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to add your own thoughts and tales of drama in the comments below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Someone released the spreadsheet of Christmas bonuses. The new hire that was buddies with the manager (had been there a MONTH) got the biggest bonus.
The best salesperson and only woman on her team got the smallest bonus in the company.
I was that woman.
RELATED:
#2
My boss cheated on his fiancée in front of the whole team. She became one of my best friends after this, because f yeah, I told her everything. Before firing me he made sure to t**ture all of us, treat us like s**t and play the victim the whole drama. His family didn't believe him. His friends didn't believe him. And after firing me, less than five minutes later, the whole crew quit as well. He faced a busy day at the restaurant with nobody except for him and his mistress. No waiters, nothing.
#3
A coworker found our shift leaders fiancé on Tinder AND Grindr. In his profile he said he was gay & single. After some debating, we showed her all the proof. Next shift she came in without her ring and a called off wedding.
#4
I worked at a MENTAL HEALTH company that was fully remote. We had a company retreat, and everyone got to meet and our CEO tells us the future of the company blah blah. Well as she's telling us this she says they're currently hiring for a new Marketing Director .... thing is... we already had a Marketing Director. So we all look at her like "oh no you're leaving!?"
Her response: I wasn't aware that I was being replaced.
And the CEO kept talking and avoiding eye contact with her.
#5
Your outlook diary is shared with the entire office. The office Casanova would keep a log of all his hookups, with a list of locations, activities performed etc, along with marks out of 10 for every encounter. It was very detailed. Staff were sending emails along the lines of "have a look at 4/4/2023"
#6
A manager I had was sleeping with 11 employees spread out between 2 different stores, and none of the girls knew about eachother. Until one day when 2 of the girls admitted to eachother they were pregnant, and confessed by who…. While on the clock….. in a full store…..
#7
Someone sent out a mass email with every employee's salary and then immediately followed it with: don't look.
We looked.
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
Well that was a great way to ensure all employees looked at the email.
#8
Worked in an office with a mail room. Two of the employees started talking about their partners, one a boyfriend & one a husband. Turned out it was the same man. Wigs were snatched, weaves were yanked out, fists were flying. There was a whole big throw down at 10:00 am on a Tuesday. How they both didn’t get fired, I’ll never know.
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago (edited)
Why are the women going after one another, when it was the man who was knowingly doing them both dirty? I hope they both kicked his dumba*s all the way to the curb and then some.
#9
I was new at a job and had just walked through a door that needed closed for heating reasons, someone asked me a question so I didn't shut the door right away. The GM came out and yelled at me for 5 minutes in front of the other coworker because I didn't close the door. I was going through a lot in my personal life and almost quit right there, but I held it together and kept my job.
Two weeks later the GM had a heart attack while driving and died. I wasn't as sad as I could've been, probably.
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
Tbf, you barely knew the guy and the few encounters you had with him were negative. I don't blame you for not being sad, at all.
#10
Colleague who had decided to use a meeting room as " their office" was upset when told this was a no go by management. This meeting room was a shared space, she had a desk in a shared office like everyone else. This woman baracaded herself in this room. And would not leave. Eventually she left the room after several hours still protesting (think police were called). She was placed on leave ( full pay). It was eventually decided that she would take early retirement. Completely bats**t behaviour.
#11
Someone got a promotion at work that was extremely unexpected. Like, out of left field this is nuts, unexpected. The next day there were xerox flyers of the promoted employees face and the individual who promoted them with the caption “it’s not what you know it’s who you blow” taped EVERYWHERE in the 10 story building. I was in a meeting with both of them that morning. Awkward doesn’t begin to describe it.
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
Haha whoever decided to do this is awesome. Sometimes the truth hurts but it is what it is. 🤷🏻♀️
#12
My coworker said goodbye see ya later Cassedilla (a play on my name and quesedilla) and went home and unalived her boyfriend and his son. I still get chills thinking about our last interaction.
#13
I worked with a guy who faked brain cancer for 3 years.
Pink kitty 8 months ago
I don't like when people fake illness. I know some people have a mental illness that makes them think it's acceptable but the scammers and what not - it's just deceitful and taking advantage of people's good nature
#14
Work Christmas party.
Boss was having an affair with his secretary.
Wife and mistress had a full on cat fight on the dance floor.
It was messy.
Wife was also the man’s former secretary.
So he had a long form for this…
#15
A former co-worker bunked work for more than 1 consecutive day, requiring them to produce a doctor's note. Instead, said person used their mom as an alibi ("I was sick, you can ask my mom."). Dear reader, when confronted by the boss, the person's mom did not in fact confirm their child's alibi. 🤣
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
Curious about the age of the former coworker? Sucks that their mom didn't have their back.
#16
I saw my co-worker make out with someone on the job. I was a prison guard. She was making out with an inmate.
#17
Employee who didn't want to work ended up getting let go. He screamed so loud, everyone in the bldg heard him regardless of where they were, headphones or not. He stormed into the president's office asking him to tell HR and his manager to reverse the decision. "Security" was following him around. He screamed on his manager and threw his key card at her. Said something like "this isn't over" and sped out of the parking lot.
Everyone was shook and worked from home the next day.
#18
I was working in a finance co. I had been there less than a year and had been promoted twice. The bosses boss met w/me on a Thursday and let me know another big promotion was coming for me the following week! The next morning two men walked into his office and were in there for 3 hours. Then they walked him, along with my promotion, out the door in handcuffs. He'd embezzled $1M+ from the company
Pink kitty 8 months ago
That happened to my supermarket manager when I was young. She was taken by police for embezzlement. The assistant manager was also taken but ended up working for another shop
#19
2 guys were dating the same chick. Said guys got in a full on fistfight on the floor. She showed up, ripped her wig off and handed it to the girl next to me, and beat both those dudes
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
I know logically what is meant by the wigs that are being torn off in these fights, but all I see in my head is red clow wigs which makes the situation even weirder.
#20
I once watched a passive-aggressive email war turn into a full-blown screaming match… in the middle of an all-hands meeting. The CEO just sat there sipping coffee like it was an episode of ‘Succession.’ Iconic.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
Sometimes you need to be calm to assess which one you’re going to fire - or maybe both.
#21
I worked as a pastry chef with… let’s say a very toxic chef in charge 😌 he mislabelled all our sorbets, I sent an order for a scoop of mango that turned out to be passion fruit, the customer sent it back, my chef flew into a rage calling me stupid and asking if I knew how to read.
I tried the sorbets myself to realise they were all mixed up, went into the walk in freezer to get more, at which point he lost it and threw a frozen metal pacojet container at my head.
I quit on the spot.
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
The chef should have been fired and OP should have charged them with a*sault.
#22
Idk if it counts as "the worst," but it's definitely cringey. We fired someone in late November due to poor attendance/performance and while getting fired she asked if she could still come to the company's holiday party that was happening in a few weeks.
Kohl_Keene 8 months ago
Years ago I worked as a temp answering phones. Apparently the company was firing all of its management staff so I saw people go into an office and come out crying all day. I asked to be reassigned.
#23
The CFO of our smallish company embezzled $4 million from the crazy Russian owner. The owner then proceeded to dismantle his entire life which resulted in his kids going to foster care.
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago (edited)
CFO FAFO, actions have consequences. I do hope the kids turned out okay. Unfortunately, one way or another they were going to be affected by their father's choices.
#24
My manager in the kitchen loudly complaining about (the sweetest) coworker. Yelling during a management meeting, storming out & slamming the door. During a meeting with me, going on a loud insult-ladened 45min vitriolic rant about the organisation/coworkers. I had words with him the next day & reported it. An investigation happened then management suggested he should resign - they were so wary of his reaction that I was encouraged to work from home that day 🙃
#25
Worked in a call centre in upper management. An employee had a full mental breakdown, beat the s**t out of another employee with a keyboard and his fists. He was dragged outside by another coworker, and then he stripped naked and started dancing outside the locked doors until the police came.
#26
My coworker screamed at me out of the blue (in the middle of the cubkicle farm) because I replied to an email of him asking me to do something with, “I don’t have the capacity to take on things outside of my direct duties.” Homie snapped.
#27
I witnessed a predident/COO, in a group meeting, start yelling, then scream insults at staff, throw stuff across the room, then huff out of the room like a petulant five year old. I’d heard stories of him doing this then witnessed it for myself. It was wild.
#28
Found out my co workers were in love but wouldn't break up with their respective partners, so they would just look at each other longingly all shift. It was sad af. They could have been happy.
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
Relationships need to be based upon more than just happiness. For whatever reasons they chose to stay with their respective partners, while continuing the affair.
#29
Outgoing disgruntled employee hid a bunch of confidential records in the ceiling tiles. They were found months later by maintenance workers.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
Any place an employee is called “disgruntled” is no place to work. Just ask any of the gruntled ones.
#30
I worked at a vet office and a client signed a waiver to put a cat down who was sick. We put the cat down. Client made FB posts saying they never approved cat being put down.. went viral. We started receiving 💀 threats in phone calls for weeks after.
#31
Working at an advertising agency in the '90's. Had a meeting one morning, very early, with my production team. Exiting the elevator, turned down the hall slowly (bought coffees for everyone) see my team sitting in the hall cross-legged on the floor with three armed NYC Marshalls standing over them. Tall, big one looks at me, "You got the keys?". Yessir, I did. We had 20mins to get our personal effects. Apparently our boss hadn't paid the rent/utilities in over a year.
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
At least the employees were still getting paid. I quit my last job, where I was the office manager for a remodeling company, partly because of financial issues. My boss/owner of the company lived way outside his means. He didn't even have his own personal bank account. Everything was paid for from the business accounts, from the lease of the showroom/office to his car payments and utility and phone bills for his house. About a year before I left the boss hired/convinced a woman he was dating to quit her well paying job to come work for him and he promised her $80k/year. My boss took advantage of her kindness and money. She spoiled him, while he just kept spending, it got to the point where my coworker was paying for clients flooring and countertops because there wasn't enough money in the business accounts. She even paid payroll for all of us a few times out of her own pocket. I tried to tell her that he's using her but she didn't want to believe it. continued...
#32
That a woman in my office had started a rumour that I was having an affair with my director.
I was less than one year out from the very traumatic and sudden death of my husband. She spread the rumour far and wide. Tried to obliterate my reputation.
I was there and still can’t believe she did it.
#33
saw a stapler launched at an assistants head. She didn’t even stop typing
#34
A coworker decided to end a staff meeting by letting us all know she was pregnant by another coworker (not her husband). She also let us know she was keeping it. This was said in front of the sperm donor and one night stand/coworker who was hearing this for the first time. Awkward didn’t begin to describe the room.
#35
When I (F) complained to a supervisor (M) that a man in the training session was wearing a shirt that said “tell your boobs (with ‘artistic’ enhancement of the Os) to stop staring at my eyes” and he looked at my colleague (F) who was about to train the next session and said “you should see the way they’re looking at YOU”. And yes, she was “blessed” in said department. And no, nothing came of it because oilfield.
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
Nothing came of it because oilfield?? Wtf does that even mean? A male dominated field?
#36
Out and proud lesbian married to another woman decided to have affair with man 12 years older than her (also married to woman). Man’s wife found out because he was talking to his side chick on Bluetooth in the car and when he pulled into the garage it connected to the Alexa in the house. Both got divorced and married each other.
#37
Multiple bedbugs were found in the office and our manager didn’t do shit about it. I made an anonymous report to OSHA. Few days later I was sitting next to one of our managers who received the phone call. She transferred the call to my boss & said “uhh I have OSHA on the phone??”. The wicked smile on my face was priceless. We had monthly professional pest treatments after that AND my anonymous report was posted on the bulletin board 💀😇
#38
Not an office, but an icu. A few young nurses were wildly inappropriate (no filter, a lot of uninvited serial talk, gestures, touching towards the male employees). They had pictures on their phones of a comatose patients genitalia. Federal offense. One had to surrender her license to avoid jail. For a while, she would come up if you googled "hottest mug shots"
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
I hope whoever had those types of pictures were actually charged with a federal offense and lost more than just their license. Wtf is wrong with people?
#39
I was working in a small advertising agency (pre-internet days, so lots of paperwork, folders, printouts). We had a new temp who was meant to be at the reception desk, answer the phone etc. Instead he „re-organized“ the boss‘s office on his first morning at work. He was fired at lunchtime.
#40
I was a pharmacy tech at a retail pharmacy and my pharmacist was inappropriately touching me, always claiming it was an accident . After my husband confronted him he continued, when I’d call him on it he’d say “or you’ll tell your husband again?” I was sure it was caught on tape and sure enough it was. Another tech even came forward. The store manager treated it like gossip he was the last to know about. The only “punishment” the pharmacist got was moved to another store.
#41
One of my software testers drugged an engineer at a team party celebrating our company's acquisition. The engineer ended up at the hospital. Two days later we had our orientation at our new office and I had to track down both the engineer and tester when they didn't show.
That night, the tester went to the old offices and stole tens of thousands of dollars in cash and computer equipment from the company.
AND THEN HE SHOWED UP FOR WORK THE NEXT DAY. Needless to say, he was fired.
#42
The owners of the insurance agency I worked at ran a Ponzi scheme with investor money and bilked them for $16 million. All 3 filed personal bankruptcy, there were angry calls from investors, the office was raided by the State Patrol and the staff just left and went to brunch, and they were eventually sentenced to prison.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
How does a Ponzi insurance scheme differ from American health insurance? In a Ponzi scheme, not everyone gets cheated.
#43
We had a WhatsApp chat with everyone in the office and company included and one of the owners dad sent a c*mshot picture to the entire company.
#44
My former employer couldn't replace me with one person. When I left, they had to hire two full time employees to do the work I was doing for $25/hour.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
When I retired, my department hired three new people. I figure it was one to replace me and two for damage clean up.
#45
My office closed my city's location, all of us are laid off at the end of the month. Somebody found out early and starting taking revenge dumps. They pooped on the floor, on a break room sofa, etc. and knew the places the cameras couldn't see.
The company closed the office and we're all working from home now, which I love. Thanks, mystery pooper!
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
I just can't comprehend how when someone learns they are being let go from a job, their first thought is to take a bunch of 💩💩 in random places around the office? Because that will teach them what?? If anything it only punishes the poor maintenance guy or cleaning crew. Like why, of all the different ways to get revenge?? 🤦🏻♀️🤯
#46
Attorneys constantly drunk off vodka in water bottles.
Pill popping paralegals slumped at computers.
Fist fights in cubicles.
Affairs with DL attorneys.
#47
Working in an after school academy in South Korea, the director manipulated a lot of us and one girl lost her shit on the director and walked out, never returning. She said a lot of nasty things about pretty much everyone in her rant before leaving but turns out she was right about a lot of it and I ended up breaking my contract and returning home several months later.
#48
A coworkers ex wife ran into the building an held a gun to his face. Scared me half to death
#49
My boss walked up to a guy working at his desk and slapped him hard in the face because one of the ceiling lights above him had gone out.
#50
My company is 100% remote and one time we had an in person meeting, people traveled from all over the U.S. for the meeting. One of my coworkers arrived so drunk she got kicked out of the hotel, our VP went to personally fire her while she was packing her stuff and she opened the door with a cigarette in hand and said “What the f* do you want?” needless to say she didn’t make it to the meeting and we never seen her again lol
Michael Largey 8 months ago
If you arrive to fire someone, don’t expect to be greeted at the door with tea and cucumber sandwiches.
#51
The worst office I ever worked in was for a charity. Our away day was just an extended bollocking from management, which was somehow meant to improve morale. 3 people were sacked the next day and 2 more suspended. I still don't know why. It was really tense for ages.
#52
The day someone in IT sent the entire company his manifesto was an interesting day. I sent myself an pdf copy because I knew IT was going to wipe it from our computers and let everyone read it who missed it.
The office he worked at got sent home and we had to hire security because that boy was hot and sounded like he would go postal.
#53
My previous boss was a gaslighting narcissistic felon who got into a disagreement with her boss. It escalated to yelling, then her screaming F YOU at her boss and telling him to F OFF. And not only did she get to keep her job, she ended up being promoted a few months later!
#54
I worked in fraud Dept of telecommunications company. We detected cloned phones. The only numbers we could legally actively monitor were accounts that had a warrant. Our boss was monitoring her husband's and his coworker-lover's accounts. Meanwhile, she was screwing one of her vendors after hours in her office. It was a hot mess and I enjoyed watching it play out. 😂
#55
I worked in a dental office. One of the receptionists was always late, would never let anyone know when she would actually arrive. She walked in one morning and another receptionist (my actual nemesis), made an asshole comment to her. It immediately made Late Lady start yelling at her. This went on for at least 5 minutes. Actual yelling. In front of patients. And nothing happened to either employee.
Michael Largey 8 months ago
If they didn’t do anything about the constant lateness, it’s no surprise they did nothing about this.
#56
Was working in a start up and the head of int finance (just below CFO) had created a company and an invoice for herself & asked me to pay it ( I was in the finance team). She was having a dispute about a raise with CFO. Another member of our team has suspicions and looked up this company on Companies House to find she was the only employee
Michael Largey 8 months ago
I audited a guy who deducted $10,000 he had lent an unsuccessful corporation as a bad debt. Guess who owned 100% of the shares of that corporation?
#57
A coworker caught video of one of the managers and their supervisor at a bar after a company function and they were holding hands. Everyone had suspected a relationship between them for years but never had any proof until that day.
#58
Can't decide between the time the pizza guy threw a kitchen knife at another driver as we were both returning to the store and it almost hit me or the time some manager went on a screaming fit in the middle of a huge cube farm and someone threw a plushie at him and told him stfu
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
Umm what is a cube farm? And someone threw a plushie, as in a stuffed animal?
#59
During an unsanctioned Christmas party after party on the roof of our office building a group of us saw two of our married coworkers hooking up on his desk through a skylight.
Then when the two offenders came back up to the roof Office Karen loudly shamed them for what she saw and how they should be ashamed of themselves and how everyone here *wild hand motions* saw what you did.
It was not a proud moment for all involved.
Bored Trash Panda 8 months ago
Wait, married to other people or each other? Cause if it's the former, yea bad, but the latter, not as bad just bad luck on them for not realizing there was a skylight. And bad on Karen for shaming them.
#60
Had a guy, clearly in the middle of a mental health crisis, come in and yell at everyone. Told every person to their face what he didn't like about them, then pointed to one person and said "you're cool though" then speed out of the parking lot on his motorcycle right before we opened.
Lost Panda 8 months ago
That sounds like Half Baked... Either they're lying, or the quitting person got the idea from the movie...
#61
Fairly new as an employee, shared an admin with another director. Made a lunch date with her in honor of admin day. He got mad because it interfered with his two hour lunch. Stopped talking to me for several months (one of many times btw).
#62
The worst was after Mom retired. One of her coworkers quit her job that day and then wanted to see her and she asked if I'd go along. I liked the lady so I agreed.
20 minutes later I was spitting tacks angry for her. She told a tale I can't relate but culminated in spiking her water bottle with something. She tasted it and shortly after she was very sick for a hot minute. She figured it out (the bitter taste) and probably saved her own life.
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
BookFanatic 8 months ago
Oddly enough, I have a LOT of patron-related drama from working in a library. Stories for days. We had a patron come in and act up day after day, which culminated in them getting banned for 90 days. The 91st day comes and we ask the local PD to come out and witness our director tell the patron they're welcome back and review the rules of behavior. Patron spit at the director and started swinging at the cops. Patron got hauled off in cuffs and became the first person to win a lifelong ban.
BookFanatic 8 months ago
Oddly enough, I have a LOT of patron-related drama from working in a library. Stories for days. We had a patron come in and act up day after day, which culminated in them getting banned for 90 days. The 91st day comes and we ask the local PD to come out and witness our director tell the patron they're welcome back and review the rules of behavior. Patron spit at the director and started swinging at the cops. Patron got hauled off in cuffs and became the first person to win a lifelong ban.
You May Like 40 Hilarious Quotes From The Most Famous People 125 Funny Phrases To Stun Even The Most Expressful Friend 140 The Office Quotes Every Fan Should Know By Heart
Saimonas Lukošius
Saimonas Lukošius
Linas Simonaitis
Related on Bored Panda
