We’ve all had that coworker—the one who makes every shift feel like a scene from a workplace drama. From backstabbing lunch thieves to passive-aggressive email warriors, these office nightmares don’t just test patience—they redefine it. These 13 stories aren’t just annoying.
They’re the kind of HR-worthy moments that make you rethink what “professionalism” really means.
Ready to cringe, rage, and maybe feel a little grateful for your own job? Let’s dive in.
1.
After losing a family member, I took two weeks off. My team seemed supportive—one coworker even sent flowers with a handwritten note: “Don’t worry about work.
I’ve got your back.” I cried reading it.
While I was at the funeral, she logged into shared drives, accessed my client list, and started contacting them directly.
She told the boss I needed “longer time off to process things,” and volunteered to take over my responsibilities—permanently.
When I returned, half my accounts were gone. She had moved into my desk. My manager said the transition was “already underway” and suggested I “consider a lateral move.” I was stunned.
Then I found out why it all happened—her boyfriend worked in HR.
Turns out, he’d flagged my performance file during my leave for being “unresponsive” and “potentially unstable under pressure.” They were planning to let me go “quietly.”
So I did my own quiet thing. I gathered all email threads, timestamps, and screenshots.
My cousin? A labor lawyer.
Two months later, she was gone.
Her boyfriend too. I didn’t get my job back—I got hers.
2.
In a moment of vulnerability, I told a coworker I was seeing a therapist. A week later, someone else asked me if I was “feeling better yet.” My private business was now gossip, and HR told me I should be “more careful who I trust.”
3.
I caught my coworker copying my weekly reports and sending them to our boss as “collaborations.” When I brought it up, she said I “should be flattered.” HR said we should “learn to share credit.”
4.
For my birthday, a coworker I barely got along with surprised me with a small box—inside was a gorgeous, minimal gold necklace.
“Thought it matched your vibe,” she said.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
Tap READ MORE to discover the rest 🔎👇
