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Original poster

Handhold needed - embarrassing workplace stories

127 replies

Weston14 · 14/07/2020 15:41

So I slept in for work.

Not just by a bit. By about 4 hours. I have absolutely no idea what happened I just completely slept through my alarm. Colleagues thought I'd died. Woke up to a load of missed calls. I. Am. Mortified. Boss is (understandably) livid.

Regale me please with your embarrassing workplace stories to make me feel better Blush

OP posts:
lockdownalli · 14/07/2020 15:44

OMG I have so many I don't know where to start....

I guess the time I got shit faced at a leaving do and linked arms with the MD on the way out of the pub saying "I really like you David" was quite memorable...Blush

The time my period started without me knowing and I was wandering around the office in my amazing new powder blue skirt suit (with a disgusting blood stain all up the back)

People will forget about it by tomorrow OP, don't worry.

Soubriquet · 14/07/2020 15:46

Eeeek that’s terrible

Hopefully it’s a one off and you’ll be fine

Original poster
Weston14 · 14/07/2020 15:50

@lockdownalli bless you that one with the skirt is just human nature I hope people were kind about it!

@Soubriquet First time I've ever done it. Never even pulled a sickie or anything.

OP posts:
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 14/07/2020 15:50

Someone at my DH’s work overslept massively. They were all just worried about him. He made up the time over a few other days and all was fine.

I’d say, if this is the first time this has happened and you willingly make up the time, you’ll be fine.

namechangenumber204 · 14/07/2020 15:51

When I was younger I suffered with horrendous periods and I was on one day, wearing my normal nappies heavy duty pads, but still managed to leak everywhere - and I was sitting on my bosses chair. When I got up it looked like the chainsaw massacre had just taken place. He wasn't in but however much I scrubbed to get it clean nothing worked and I had to confess the following day. He was so kind, way more concerned for me than his blood soaked chair. I had a hysterectomy a few months later... jeez that was mortifying though...

Soubriquet · 14/07/2020 15:57

Name change fail OP?

Soubriquet · 14/07/2020 16:00

Ah I remember one that had me very embarrassed

Pregnant with dd and suffered with hypermesis

I had already been in hospital with severe dehydration due to vomiting so they knew it was severe.

I was having tablets which helped but didn’t solve the problem.

Was working on the checkout when I feel my stomach and mouth going. Legged it to the back to find the had bolted the door to count the contents of the safe

Went to turn around to run outdoors but I wasn’t quick enough and I just threw up all over the floor in front of customers.

I was upset and embarrassed....Boss wasn’t very understanding. I had to clean up my own vomit whilst she stood there saying “I thought you had tablets for this!!”

Ended up in hospital again not long later and then ended up in sick leave before taking maternity leave

Didn’t go back to the job once maternity was over

Fruitbowlflowers · 14/07/2020 16:02

Used to work as barmaid many moons ago, after hours we were all having a drink.
My then boyfriend came up beside me and I put my hand on his bottom only to turn around and realise it was my boss!!
We were both exceptionally embarrassed and thankfully he laughed it off but God I was only young and mortified.

MusicTeacherSussex · 14/07/2020 16:07

Mate once I was 4 hours late for work as I'd been at a russian friend's birthday do. We drank her dads homemade vodka. I pleaded sick until I realised there was a video of me on facebook crawling in through the door on my hands and knees singing at 3am. I was young. The boyfriend that posted it is dead to me tha fully as he was a tosser but I never lived it down and I'll never drink vodka again. At least yours was an honest mistake!

Soubriquet · 14/07/2020 16:08

@MusicTeacherSussex

Mate once I was 4 hours late for work as I'd been at a russian friend's birthday do. We drank her dads homemade vodka. I pleaded sick until I realised there was a video of me on facebook crawling in through the door on my hands and knees singing at 3am. I was young. The boyfriend that posted it is dead to me tha fully as he was a tosser but I never lived it down and I'll never drink vodka again. At least yours was an honest mistake!
Oh that’s awful
doyounothavegoogle · 14/07/2020 16:09

I managed someone who didn't turn up for work one day.

Eventually got hold of them by phone about an hour and a half after their start time. They sounded very sleepy and puzzled to have been woken by me calling. Asked me why on earth I was ringing them on a Saturday (and so early!).

It was Tuesday Confused

MusicTeacherSussex · 14/07/2020 16:10

You live you learnBlush

fleamadonna · 14/07/2020 16:11

My 42 year old colleague once had her mother call in sick for her when she had a hangover.

MuchTooTired · 14/07/2020 16:13

When I was young (and pretty stupid!) I went out the night before work. Woke up the next day to my phone going off and it was my boss - I answered the phone by saying “bollocks” as I’d clocked the time whilst answering 😳

Same boss, different time. Christmas Eve he was giving out the staff presents. Present in one hand, kiss on the cheek on the other side of the body. For some completely unknown reason I didn’t follow suit and ended up with a completely accidental kiss on the lips. 15 years on and I’m still cringing with embarrassment thinking about it!

I’d like to say I don’t know why I didn’t get fired, but he actually told me why I’d not been fired 🤣

Try not to worry about it, people will (mostly) forget about it by tomorrow. It could’ve been an awful lot worse...!

PheasantPlucker1 · 14/07/2020 16:13

Many years ago, I was working the 6am-2pm shift on new years day.

New years eve I went out for a couple, and the rest is a blur until I woke up tea time on New Years Day.

I rang the boss grovelling like hell for missing work, and rather bemused she told me I had been in. Apparently I had been "very quiet". I must have still been shit faced through the whole shift Grin

Dixiechickonhols · 14/07/2020 16:13

Not embarrassing they are probably worried about you. I’d just apologise stress only time happened and agree plan to make up time or be docked pay.

Soubriquet · 14/07/2020 16:15

@PheasantPlucker1

Many years ago, I was working the 6am-2pm shift on new years day.

New years eve I went out for a couple, and the rest is a blur until I woke up tea time on New Years Day.

I rang the boss grovelling like hell for missing work, and rather bemused she told me I had been in. Apparently I had been "very quiet". I must have still been shit faced through the whole shift Grin

GrinGrinGrin
Osirus · 14/07/2020 16:16

Not me, but a colleague fell asleep on the bus! It passed our office and she ended up miles away not knowing where she was! She had to get off that bus and get on another before she found her way back, a few hours late! 😁

TiddleyWinks123 · 14/07/2020 16:18

Oh no, don't worry - it's not the end of the world, people have done worse! It's not like a GDPR issue or like you've sent out any personal data! Don't lose sleep over it, just say you're sorry and you'll make up the time!

MrsMoastyToasty · 14/07/2020 16:19

There was a time when I nipped out of a meeting to go to the loo and when I returned I had my skirt tucked in to my greying granny pants....

Anonandredfaced · 14/07/2020 16:20

Name changed due to horrendous embarrassment...

Sitting in open plan office. Stood up and walked away from my desk. Did the loudest fanny farts imaginable in time with each my first 4 steps.

I just kept walking and it was never mentioned by anyone but there were at least 15 sitting within earshot, vast majority were men. I didn't catch anyone's eye but could see several heads shoot up Blush

IntermittentParps · 14/07/2020 16:25

PheasantPlucker1, that is EPIC.Grin

whatwouldjohnmclanedo · 14/07/2020 16:26

I set off fire alarm cooking, whole building was evacuated 🤦🏽‍♀️

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 14/07/2020 16:27

I returned to work after having twins. Thought I’d stopped lactating as I’d Started bottle feeding and weaning. Big open plan office with cubicles for interviews, seeing a young woman with a small baby.(awww) Walked back into the work area and my friend just stared and pointed. My top was soaked in milk. I had to do a mad dash to the loo across the whole floor and someone loaned me a t shirt.

Merryoldgoat · 14/07/2020 16:30

My dress came apart whilst working on the shop floor and I essentially exposed myself to the man I was serving.