Here are some of the most jaw-dropping stories.
“The CEO of our corporation was named Howard Lance.
At our division, we had a Lance Howard working there.
They all got fired, and the whole event became part of the new employee introduction.”
“Two different jobs, two different skirts, same mortifying wardrobe malfunction.
The first time, I was conducting legally mandated survey information for the federal government.
The woman answered the door at that moment, and we looked at each other and cracked up.
She said, ‘Bet you’re glad I’m a woman.’
None of my coworkers said anything, but eventually, the snickers made me look myself over.
I had to cross the massive bank lobby in my slip to get my skirt.
I’m afraid of wrap skirts to this day.”
Anonymous, 60, Canada
3.
“I signed up for an ‘executive lunch’ at a summit with my company.
We got about 30 minutes into the lunch, and the ‘Big Wig’ hadn’t shown up.
I’m the Big Wig.'”
“I was mortified but had to give myself a little slack.
It’s a mistake anyone could make, but I do wish it hadn’t happened.”
jcismybestfriend
5.
“I worked as a cashier at a local chain grocery store in college.
A new location was opening, and they needed help, so I volunteered for a shift.
They put me on the express lane, and someone came through my line with a gallon of milk.
I asked them if they needed a bag, and they said no.
They didn’t ask me to fill in at that store anymore, lol.”
“I was a supply officer for my division.
I ordered what I thought were lamps (lightbulbs).
What I really ordered was LAMPS: Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System, an anti-submarine helicopter.
Fortunately, my department head thought this was hilarious and wouldn’t let the chief write me up.”
fancywalrus88
7.
Everyone in the restaurant could hear the orders.
It felt like one of those movie scenes where the record scratches and everyone stops and stares.
I finished clearing the cache and deleting old files on his PC and left.
I thought I was cleaning up old files, but I actually deleted everything they had created.
I was terminated the next day."
Anonymous
9.
“I worked the front desk at a hotel.
as I handed over the keys.
Immediately, my face filled with horror as I realized what had just come out of my mouth.
Thankfully, they were very understanding.”
“I worked at a law firm in Manhattan when I graduated from college.
We had a huge real estate client coming into the office, so people were pretty tense.
Someone asked me to grab a banker’s box full of the client’s files.
The box was on top of a large filing cabinet.
It was a tough day at the office.”
Anonymous, 38, New York
11.
“I work from home for an insurance company, so we have multiple Zoom meetings.
And I mean, it got really, REALLY X-rated.
Some of the staff left, but most of us stayed for the giggles, lol.
She didn’t realize we could hear her steamy convo until about 30 minutes in.
We heard, ‘Wait oh shit, is this thing still on?’
“Not me, but my mom.
She worked as a lunch lady at a local elementary school.
Luckily, her supervisor had already left for the day.
So that evening, my sweet mother bought a bunch of eggs and prepared them at our house.
I’m talking massive amounts of eggs enough to feed egg salad to hundreds of children.
I was told to never speak of it again.
Sorry, Mom!”
Quinn, 42, Maine
13.
“I accidentally sent my boss to the Netherlands from SoCal for a conference that wasn’t happening.
He got there and texted me, ‘Why am I here?’
He got a few days off before flying to Switzerland, and I felt like an asshole.
“I went to work after taking prescription painkillers for a ruptured meniscus.
I was also on crutches.
The day was a huge embarrassment, and I have no idea how I wasnt fired.
I also worked in a lab, and my workspace was separate from my office desk.
Hours later, I was using the gender-neutral bathrooms and forgot to lock the door.
Seriously, I dont know how I was still employed at the end of the day.
Though they suggested I take a few days leave!”
gussierd
15.
Unfortunately, I suffered from frequent migraines, and sometimes the migraines were so debilitating that I made errors.
My boss had a hard time believing that migraines were a reason to call in sick.
I was allowed to call in sick for migraines after that.”
“I worked in customer service in a new team that answered incoming emails.
Most of us wrote a quick one-line response and hit send to get through the task quickly.
She dashed them off and then got back to the live emails.
She had a lot of explaining to do that day to the manager and the customers!”
grant101010
17.
I hadn’t gotten my first paycheck yet and was broke.
While at work, one day, I realized I had no toilet paper at home.
I was wearing a pleated, above-the-knee silk skirt that day with tights.
While in the bathroom, I thought I would sneak a roll of toilet paper home with me.
Tea shot everywhere in the middle of the lunch rush in front of every customer and my coworkers.
To say I was embarrassed would be an understatement.
I was banned from working the tea station for a while.”
magicalphone37
Note: Some responses have been edited for length/clarity.
