10 People Who Turn Work Into Their Own Reality TV

Most people show up to work to do their job, but for some, the office becomes something much bigger. Whether they’re narrating every move, stirring up drama over small decisions, or turning colleagues into recurring characters, these individuals bring a flair for performance to their professional lives.

It might seem excessive, but often, it’s their way of finding meaning, control, or even fun in the daily grind. And while not everyone loves the spotlight, these workplace performers show just how blurred the line between real life and reality TV can become.

• In my early twenties, I worked at an investment bank in Boston. There was an account administrator I was more than a little smitten with—the kind of presence that reliably turned my brain to mush anytime she was nearby.
  One morning, as I stepped off the elevator, I noticed her walking toward it. The hallway curved gently to the right instead of forming a sharp corner, and in my attempt to casually glance her way while simultaneously forgetting how to function as a human, I misjudged my stride.
  Neck craned, coordination gone, I walked straight into the curved wall—then proceeded to slide along the entire arc of it like a sack of potatoes, in full view of at least five coworkers! — © levitatingcircuit / Reddit

• We were having a casual conversation about baby names—just light, background chatter while we worked on some coding. Someone mentioned the name “Corey,” and without thinking, I said (probably a bit too loudly), “I’ve never met a Corey who wasn’t rude.”
  What I had completely forgotten in that moment was that my boss—who sat directly across from me—had a wife named Corey. The room went completely silent. He looked up and gave me a glare I’ll never forget. I immediately wanted to disappear.
  We still worked together for a few more weeks before he moved on to a new role, but after that incident, things were never quite the same. There was a noticeable shift—he was a little more distant, a bit less friendly. Which stung, because we’d gotten along really well before that. It happened eight years ago, and honestly, I still feel bad about it to this day. — © FALIX_ / Reddit

• About a month into my new job—nearly ten years ago now—there was a big company celebration. At one point, my team gathered to take a group photo, and as we were getting into position, a man walked over to join us.
  Without thinking, I looked up at him and said, “Hey! You’re not on our team!” He didn’t respond—just smiled and stood with us. Later, during the formal presentations, guess who stepped up to the podium? Yep. The same man. Our CEO. © Random_potato5 / Reddit

• It was my first week working at a small amusement park. I was about 21 when a guy walked up and asked if he could have my number. Assuming he meant for something work-related—and thinking he looked a lot like the park’s owner—I scribbled down my name and personal phone number on a scrap of paper and handed it over.
  I figured he needed it for my file or something. I’m terrible at remembering faces, so I didn’t question it. A few seconds later, he came back, face bright red.
  “I meant the park’s phone number,” he said. “But thanks, I’ll call you.” Before I could explain the misunderstanding, he was already walking away. I just didn’t answer my phone for a while after that. — © NeedsMoreTuba / Reddit

• During my first week at a new job I’d moved across the country for, I walked full-speed into a glass wall while holding a freshly poured cup of coffee. The cup shattered. Coffee went everywhere—on the floor, on the glass, all over me.
  Somehow, the only thing that didn’t break was the wall itself. The office had an open-concept layout, and the “meeting room” was really just glass panels—so naturally, everyone on both sides saw it happen.
  To top it off, I still had to join a client call on time. So I scrambled to clean myself up, wipe down the wall, mop the floor, find a vacuum for the shards, and then hopped on the call like none of it had happened. — © lareina13 / Reddit

• [edited] At a corporate event, I was nominated for an award in a category I’d really excelled in, so I wasn’t surprised to be in the running and fully expected to win. When it came time to announce the winner, the presenter, an Italian gentleman, misread the name, combining mine with another nominee’s. I was seated closer to the stage, so I got up and accepted the award, assuming it was meant for me.
  What made it worse? The people who actually decided the awards were sitting at my table. They could have stepped in to correct the mistake... but they didn’t. — © Michael_of_Derry / Reddit

• I had just started my commercial cleaning company, and this was one of my very first estimates. It was a larger job, and I was genuinely excited about the opportunity. The prospective client let me tour the facility on my own while he stayed in the lobby.
  At one point, while riding the elevator, I started jumping up and down and mouthing “OMG” to myself—just caught up in the excitement of starting a business and getting into sales. I was young, and it all felt like a big moment.
  When I returned to the lobby, I noticed monitors behind the client displaying the elevator camera feed. He had definitely seen me. His demeanor had completely shifted—he was distant, clearly put off. I didn’t land that account, and I’ve never forgotten the lesson. © mynameplussomenumber / Reddit

• I was in a large Microsoft Teams meeting with over 50 people—camera on, mic muted. My cat was being especially attention-seeking: jumping onto my lap, then up on the desk right in front of the laptop. I was getting increasingly frustrated because I couldn’t focus on what was being said.
  I decided to quickly turn my camera off, pick her up, and carry her outside—scolding her as I went, calling her a “silly little attention seeker.” What I didn’t realize was that I’d accidentally unmuted myself in the process. Everyone in the meeting heard it—and, of course, assumed I was talking about the speaker.
  I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. I don’t think I’ve ever cringed that hard in my life. Thankfully, once I explained, everyone had a good laugh about it. — © Substantial_Meal_6** / Reddit

• I was attending a very high-level meeting, tasked with quietly taking notes on action items relevant to my agency, so my manager could focus on the discussion. I’d been explicitly told not to speak, not to answer questions, and to remain as invisible as possible.
  While the meeting was underway, I was discreetly texting my child under the table. Just as the Director General wrapped things up by saying, “Thank you, everyone, for attending—any final comments?” we happened to make brief eye contact.
  At that exact moment, my child had just messaged “goodbye.” Without thinking, I responded—out loud, and very clearly—"Love you." There was a pause. Then silence. Then... complete, deafening silence. — © pombearinoz / Reddit

• My boss complimented my hair almost every day. After a few months, it started to feel creepy. I finally snapped, “Stop hitting on me! It’s unprofessional!” He stared at me, then suddenly burst into laughter.
  “Hitting on you? No way! I was just impressed. My wife is a hairstylist, and I learned from her.” He pulled out his phone and showed me dozens of photos: his wife’s salon, her work, and even him helping mix dyes. I wished the ground would swallow me whole.

Just because you have to work, doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun. Here are 14 office stories that are more entertaining than The Office TV show!