15 Curious Office Stories That Could Become an Episode of a Sitcom

It takes great self-control and strong nerves to react calmly to a deer bursting into the office or a boss who calls everyone to a strange birthday party. Such mishaps, of course, are rare. But we found the stories that prove literally anything can happen in an ordinary office on an ordinary day.

• A few months into my first big time job, I got my pant leg caught in the giant desk chair they gave me. I had my own office and if I was smart I would have taken my pants off to disengage, but I was not smart. I decided I should roll the chair backwards and kick forward to pull the pants free. All I managed to do was rip my pants from knee to crotch along the seam. I got my pant leg free then spent the next half hour calling random coworkers desk phones asking if they had a roll of duct tape. Finally someone brought me one so I could tape my pants back together along the inside to get me through the end of the day. © wiggysbelleza / Reddit
• My old CEO used to direct the marketing team using his own unique vocabulary that no one else understood — phrases like “more glitzy glam,” “Hollywood pop,” or “sparkle sparkle.” We actually had to hold an entire meeting where he attempted to define what he meant by each term. (Plot twist: he couldn’t even explain some of them.) In the end, we had to create a glossary so the rest of the team could interpret his instructions, instead of him just, you know, talking to us clearly.... © Apprehensive-Ad9832 / Reddit
• We had a surprise meeting where we were all called to the conference room for the owner’s dog’s birthday party. There was cake. © Krusador / Reddit

• A deer broke through a window and terrorized my old office. It was before I worked there but I heard it was a disaster and took quite awhile before he was able to get out of the building. © Cheyrose11 / Reddit
• I got a job at a company, and it happened that I didn’t see the director until a month later because he was away. To my surprise, he was a young handsome man with a stunning body and flawless face. All the girls in the office had a crush on him for a long time, and I was new. And somehow I had a dream about him. For no particular reason, just a dream. But the next morning my director looked at me strangely and warmly. At the end of the day, he invited me for coffee, but I politely declined (why would I need problems). And later that evening, he sent me a message apologizing for crossing the line, and said that I’d appeared in his dream. Wild, right? © Overheard / Ideer
• My boss put sound foam on my desk because the sound of my mouse cord moving would drive him crazy. He then could still hear it so he bought me a cordless mouse. I was told, “For the love of god never bring the noisy mouse back.” © No-Detail-7909 / Reddit

• You know those foam packing peanuts? We got a box with pink and green ones so I mixed them with white and put a bowl of them in the lobby to tease our resident candy-holic. We have glass doors. About an hour later, a complete stranger barged through the doors, grabbed a handful and threw them on the floor saying, “That's not candy!” and stomped out. © Kj Goranson / Quora
• I was hired to replace an ineffective manager. He was not fired and not told I was replacing him. Once I explained to the owner in kind language that this cowardly plan was crazy and he had to choose, he moved him to a different department. That went as well as you might expect. © coralcoast21 / Reddit
• We once had a meeting to be told we couldn’t eat meals at our desks, but only snacks, and then we spent an hour talking about what was considered a meal and what was considered a snack. Ramen? Gyros? But is it ok if you’re having a bag of chips for your lunch? It was so asinine. I think someone got fired over rolling their eyes. © wylmaismyname / Reddit

• Owner of the company gathered the entire staff together (there were about 10 of us) to berate us for not getting her or her husband a Christmas present. We were called ungrateful. She did not get us a Christmas present. © hilhilbean / Reddit
• Heard buzzing from my boss’s office, assumed his conference phone was left on, opened the door to shut it off, and there is a swarm of bees in the corner. Took a quick video, then shut the door. Called facilities to deal with it, and then texted him the video with a note that said “might want to work from home after your meeting.” © Then-Chocolate-5191 / Reddit
• I work for a large engineering consulting firm and they got rid of all the offices and made it an open concept floor plan. Literally just tables like a lunch cafeteria in high school. How the hell can I work in that environment? Thankfully working from home stopped that nonsense. Can’t believe people still go into the office since we all have the option to work from home. © i812ManyHitss / Reddit

• Our employee liked the intern girl. But she was ignoring him. He saw her getting into the boss’s car once and started a rumor that they were lovers! The boss’s wife found out about it and came to the office. She saw the girl and said, “What kind of mistress is this? This is our youngest daughter. Who’s spreading rumors about my husband? Young man, be sure I’ll remember you.” The girl, covered her face with her hands and said angrily, “Mom, stop...” Long story short, the girl left on her own, stating that she wanted to achieve everything herself, and not through connections. © Overheard / Ideer
• I was driving to the office when suddenly I got a flat tire. I had to call a mechanic and take a taxi so I wouldn’t be late for work on my first day. While I was waiting for the taxi, I got soaked. Finally, I arrived at the office, and the security woman wouldn’t let me in. “Where’s your access card?” I explained everything and she told me to wait for the manager. She also said unflattering things about me. And then my boss calls me (by the way, he’s the president of the company). After listening to me, he came down and attacked the security lady, “Why is our new employee sticking around here, all wet? Get her some new clothes. I don’t care how much it costs.” © Stories / VK
• 2 coworkers were having an affair. The wife found out, so she ordered a big banner-style vinyl sign and hung it from the overpass people had to drive under to get to the office. “Jane Smith and John Jones are Having an Affair!” © smartbiphasic / Reddit

Do you like office stories? Here are some epic fails that became office legends.