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Humanity has been trying to come to terms with the unique existential despair and cultural idiosyncrasies of working in an office for about as long as offices have existed. One of the latest and greatest coping mechanisms is this chaotic Facebook group where roughly 200,000 people pretend to be colleagues in a completely dysfunctional office.

Much of what goes on in this group is hilarious, but it’ll be especially appreciated by anyone who’s a fan of The Office or who loves to commiserate about office life in general. Scroll on and see if you recognize your office life in any of these absurd situations!

#3

People-Pretend-They-Work-Same-Office

A group where we all pretend to work in the same office Report

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xxx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fact that Timmy is 3 and she's been lost in the south hall for 4 years - that hall has seen some s**t hahaha

April Caron
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is how IKEA gets you. You wander around, following arrows… until you put on a yellow and blue vest and start working there.

John George
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you hear something large moving around just out of sight, RUN!

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The group itself seems to be quite an orderly place, the chaos that it fosters notwithstanding. The rules include demands that members stay in character (as oblivious office workers) and stay on topic when they post. It’s easy to understand why these rules are important, as the group has nearly 200,000 members and gets thousands of posts a month.

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More interesting is why the group exists in the first place. More than just a roleplay exercise, it seems like a place where people cope in some way with the frustrations of their office lives. What is it about office life that has made so many people dread it and create works of film, art and literature to address it?

#8

People-Pretend-They-Work-Same-Office

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Brent Kaufman
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Groupon vendors are notoriously cranky and don't like Groupon customers. Save your money and do the colonoscopy yourselves. Make a day of it.

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A survey by Monster.com reported that 26% of the workers they surveyed about office life would rather get a painful root canal than work in their office. Workers resent commute and parking costs as well as the time they spend.

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The problem isn’t just a modern one - the movie Office Space was made in 1999 and the American version of The Office wrapped up in 2013. But the lockdowns of recent years have had their own special impact on our perceptions of office life. Many people have realized that their work can remain unchanged or even improve when they do it from home. That same Monster survey indicated that 38% of the workers surveyed claimed they would consider leaving their job if it mandated working from the office even a single day per week.

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Working for home has shown some workers that offices can reduce the quality of their work. Large offices can be distracting, they can lack privacy, and can introduce a potentially unwanted social dimension to work. Meanwhile, we can enjoy all of our preferential comforters at home.

#18

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Sergio Bicerra
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also Mikey, it would be considerate of you to wait with the door opened just a little gap for the tp delivery, not wide open, your pants to your ankles, with you tapping your foot, a little patience please. Edit: a word.

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#19

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Fire Singer
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We don't have assigned parking at work, but I almost always get the same spot. I'm irrationally irritated when someone is in "my" spot before me. But I'd never demand they move or even suggest it.

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#24

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Michael P (Perthaussieguy)
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get sick of hearing about companies making 'record profits' yet can't afford reasonable pay increases or better benefits to employees :(

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#33

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FakeOptimist
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that happened to me they can expect me at the office in 7-10 days. Because that's apparently how long it will take for me to be able to buy gas. My car doesn't run on 1 slice of pizza and a soda.

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#36

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Andi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'the frustration of your colleagues when you ....' no, they don't give a s**t (tee hee) because they don't want to be rushed or timed either .

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#48

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Mike Fitzpatrick
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, Steph, if you'd stop shouting "tequila makes her clothes fall off" while twirling your panties, after ONE marg maybe you would get more invites!

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#50

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eeeeeeeee
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Invest in a "william poker". It's a needle on a long bamboo stick. surprisingly effective.

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#55

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xxx
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

''Also I used my own dentures for that *personal touch* - please return them to me once you are done eating my cake. Don't worry - I rinsed them with water first!''

#59

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Mrs. Mustang
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Karen in HR stole this from her kids school cafeteria. I heard she got a call from the school's HR department.

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#63

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Nancy Lynch
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not signing up for anything six months away until I know I will be here in six months.

#66

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Philly Bobcat
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Promoted from mail clerk to janitor. At least as janitor, he's allowed out of the sub-basement

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#71

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Mrs. Mustang
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who DESTROYED your lunch is the question. Maybe Carl from IT brought his emotional support tasmanian devil to work today?

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#72

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Mrs. Mustang
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

4th floor - Team Lead of the Party Planning Committee AND the Committee to Plan Parties. Suck it Pam and Karen.

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