HR Strange But True

What’s the Strangest Thing You’ve Seen at Work?

By Kyle Emshwiller

If you’ve worked long enough, you’re bound to have a few strange but true stories about the workplace. From outrageous interviews to shocking coworker behavior to audacious exits, we’ve heard many over the years. Here are a few readers’ stories:

Bathrooms—We were surprised to see how many readers had strange workplace tales involving toilets! From a twisted ankle and an award employee e-mail to an applicant giving a phone interview in the bathroom, we were surprised by all of them.

Résumés—There seems to be no shortage of bad résumé stories. Overall, the main culprit seems to be grammar mistakes (how can you spell your name wrong?).

Interviews—Perhaps the most popular topic is strange but true interviews. We’ve heard about cultural differences, an odd reason for termination (applicant said she smelled like fish?), and even an intoxicated interviewee.

Now it’s your turn. We’re asking for readers to submit their own experiences.

Tell us your story!

1 thought on “What’s the Strangest Thing You’ve Seen at Work?”

  1. When I was in the USAF, we worked with a civilian contractor who chewed tobacco. As if that (and his styrofoam cup for spitting in) were not bad enough, he once spilled it into the air conditioning vents in the Barksdale AFB control tower–and used to remove his dentures and pick the tobacco out with a knife.

    We used to work after he went home, as it was so God awful working with him.

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