Friday 5 – The 5 awkward things that happen at work almost every day

1.  Cube Gas

So you’re at your desk, chuggin’ along at your work, and you decide “hey, no one has come into my office/cube to visit me all day.  Uh oh, I have a gassy feeling.  I’m going to let one slip out”.  And, just as soon as you let it slip out, someone walks into your office to talk to you.  You break out into a sweat thinking “man, I hope it is a non-smeller”.

2.  Unexpected Door Open

Here in my office, to get to the restrooms or the elevators, you have to walk through an opaque door.  Solid oak, baby,  Anyways, at least once a day, someone will open the door right as someone on the other side was about to, and there is an awkward encounter that usually results in words being spoken that are either not English, or not grammatically correct.  “Ohhp” or “O hi now”.

3.  Bathroom stall door pull

You are sitting in the ever-spacious handicapped stall doing your business, and someone walks into the bathroom.  All of a sudden you tense up.  Why?  No idea.  But then, the person pulls on the bathroom door.  It’s locked, so they are forced to either go to another restroom or use the regular stall (lame).  But when it’s you on the commode, that door-pull can really break your concentration.  Try the courtesy cough as soon as they enter the restroom.  It usually works.

4.  On the phone?

In my office, most of us talk on wireless headsets since we are on the phone all day.  I can be here at my desk, sitting back in my chair talking on the phone with someone.  Almost every day, someone will walk up to me while I am talking.  They always mouth the words “are you on the phone?”  Well, I’m certainly not talking to myself over here.

5.  Early sneak out

Not too awkward, but if you have ever worked in an office environment, you know you have at least thought of it.  It’s 4:30, and your boss has already left.  Sometimes here, people will walk down the back hallway to avoid being seen by anyone else, namely their manager.  I personally have never done this, as I am a star employee who loves to work late.  But I have a friend who has done this.  Yeah, a friend.

What other things should be on this list?