Tell me about your weird co-worker(s)...

[Anonymous]

We have a 45 year old spinster male mail and mom clerck who lives with his parents and is obsessed with his chihuahua. If his dog is not feeling well or his parents aren’t home, he takes vacation. Does not go anywhere however

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. One who is a spinster and still lives at home at 32 and seems to have no life outside of work.

2. One who calls everyone 'Angel' 'Darling' 'Beautiful/Gorgeous'

Wow... where to begin...

1. Living at home and being unmarried at age 32 isn't weird and don't bother anyone except for the poster. I think you are being really judgmental, as you probably don't know what is going on/has happened in her life.

2. I don't think these habits are that weird - it could be a regional thing. But, as we are in the #metoo era, I don't think it is advisable to say these things in the workplace.

Personally, I think this thread reflects more negatively on some of the posters, rather than their allegedly "weird" coworkers.

We have a guy who is in hid mid thirties and lives at home. We are IT helpdesk. He's diabetic (a few times over the years EMTs have been called for him), frail looking--hollow chest, no muscles at all, has some OCD traits (he has a hard time about certain company rules involving our clients that half the people routinely violate so matter what and is always reporting the violators/ ranting/ submitting feedback about) and seems to have a very hard time when it comes to judgment calls where we don't have information or we have conflicting information but you can usually figure out and then submit something about--he'll get very stressed in those situations. His family is very, very into food--rating restaurants, shopping at specialty stores, he was thrilled beyond words when we got our first Aldi--apparently you can get giant jars of capers there although not snobby. The few times I have run into him away from work he is with his parents and his sister--his sister looks like a very normal and quite attractive person. He has IT education beyond what our job requires but I think he feels safe where he is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. One who is a spinster and still lives at home at 32 and seems to have no life outside of work.

2. One who calls everyone 'Angel' 'Darling' 'Beautiful/Gorgeous'

Wow... where to begin...

1. Living at home and being unmarried at age 32 isn't weird and don't bother anyone except for the poster. I think you are being really judgmental, as you probably don't know what is going on/has happened in her life.

2. I don't think these habits are that weird - it could be a regional thing. But, as we are in the #metoo era, I don't think it is advisable to say these things in the workplace.

Personally, I think this thread reflects more negatively on some of the posters, rather than their allegedly "weird" coworkers.

We have a guy who is in hid mid thirties and lives at home. We are IT helpdesk. He's diabetic (a few times over the years EMTs have been called for him), frail looking--hollow chest, no muscles at all, has some OCD traits (he has a hard time about certain company rules involving our clients that half the people routinely violate so matter what and is always reporting the violators/ ranting/ submitting feedback about) and seems to have a very hard time when it comes to judgment calls where we don't have information or we have conflicting information but you can usually figure out and then submit something about--he'll get very stressed in those situations. His family is very, very into food--rating restaurants, shopping at specialty stores, he was thrilled beyond words when we got our first Aldi--apparently you can get giant jars of capers there although not snobby. The few times I have run into him away from work he is with his parents and his sister--his sister looks like a very normal and quite attractive person. He has IT education beyond what our job requires but I think he feels safe where he is.

Wow. That guy has a pathologically judgmental coworker who lacks common sense about over sharing. Not cool, PP. And learn what OCD actually is before you go playing internet psychiatrist.

[Anonymous]

An obese bachelor who took multiple trips for a few days a year to Thailand and the Philippines. He had no relatives or friends from what we knew. We all had our theories about what he was doing. He also had pants he could no longer fit into. He would have the top button undone. The pants held together with a large safety pin which was hanging on for its dear life. It was quite the visual. He died of a heart attack in his apartment and was found days later.

[Anonymous]

I had colleague who occasionally wore slippers to work. He also ate foods at his desk that were not the easiest to eat, like corn on the cob.

Although not weird, there used to be a really hot maintenance worker in our building. He could have been a model, he was that good looking. But he was as dumb as rocks.

[Anonymous]

Do any of you have coworkers that regularly call in because a spouse is ill? Not chronically ill, mind you, but for spousal colds, allergies, or minor injuries? Or is that just my coworkers?

I couldn’t imagine DH missing work because I have a fever, but maybe we don’t love each other that much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you have coworkers that regularly call in because a spouse is ill? Not chronically ill, mind you, but for spousal colds, allergies, or minor injuries? Or is that just my coworkers?

I couldn’t imagine DH missing work because I have a fever, but maybe we don’t love each other that much?

LOL. Well you and your husband may not love each other that much but I love you for that line! Thanks for the laugh!!! (And my husband and I apparently don't love each other that much, either.)

[Anonymous]

Had a video editor who was unfriendly and just odd. He didn't show up to work for several days and we sent someone to his home to check on him.

Turns out he had a fight with roommate, tried to slit his throat with a knife and then took off. Police were looking for him and warned us to keep an eye out for him if he showed up at workplace.

A short while later we discovered missing an entire film collection of an old TV history series. We figured he must have taken it to sell. Neither was ever heard from again.

[Anonymous]

Ooh I work with some doozies.

40 year old male, obsessed with Amish/Mormon communities and wants to be 'like them.' Has 2 daughters who he refuses any physical interaction with. Married to a Jewish woman and spends a large part of his day talking about his in-laws. Obsessive about germs, washes hands with bleach and hot water and soap every few minutes. Will not drink from plastic, so does not drink anything during the work day. Eats 2 apples for hydration. Eats the same food every day, a greek yogurt, peanut butter on a rice cake, the apples. Refuses to eat any vegetables. Every day after work, he strips down in his garage and puts all of his clothes in the dryer on high to 'kill any germs' so they never enter his home, and makes his wife/kids do the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I find weird is how many "bathroom handwashing monitors" there obviously are lurking in the workplace. Sheesh.

Hand washing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent transmission and propagation of bacteria and viruses. In these times of Coronavirus and deadly flu outbreaks, this is not a trivial matter. Sheesh...

Indeed. I don't want to get sick because someone was too trashy to know to wash their hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ooh I work with some doozies.

40 year old male, obsessed with Amish/Mormon communities and wants to be 'like them.' Has 2 daughters who he refuses any physical interaction with. Married to a Jewish woman and spends a large part of his day talking about his in-laws. Obsessive about germs, washes hands with bleach and hot water and soap every few minutes. Will not drink from plastic, so does not drink anything during the work day. Eats 2 apples for hydration. Eats the same food every day, a greek yogurt, peanut butter on a rice cake, the apples. Refuses to eat any vegetables. Every day after work, he strips down in his garage and puts all of his clothes in the dryer on high to 'kill any germs' so they never enter his home, and makes his wife/kids do the same.

Outside of the Amish/Mormon side, it sounds like he has OCD and or serious anxiety issues. (And why can't he bring a glass or glass bottle from home?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ooh I work with some doozies.

40 year old male, obsessed with Amish/Mormon communities and wants to be 'like them.' Has 2 daughters who he refuses any physical interaction with. Married to a Jewish woman and spends a large part of his day talking about his in-laws. Obsessive about germs, washes hands with bleach and hot water and soap every few minutes. Will not drink from plastic, so does not drink anything during the work day. Eats 2 apples for hydration. Eats the same food every day, a greek yogurt, peanut butter on a rice cake, the apples. Refuses to eat any vegetables. Every day after work, he strips down in his garage and puts all of his clothes in the dryer on high to 'kill any germs' so they never enter his home, and makes his wife/kids do the same.

Outside of the Amish/Mormon side, it sounds like he has OCD and or serious anxiety issues. (And why can't he bring a glass or glass bottle from home?)

We work in a prison, so no glass

[Anonymous]

One who is 35 but looks 17. Freakily young looking.
Weird voice as well,. Sounds exotic but is from America allegedly. Still lives at home, seems to have no social life or friends and is incredibly shy/says very little.

[Anonymous]

Any new weird coworker stories : D...I just made fresh popcorn

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ooh I work with some doozies.

40 year old male, obsessed with Amish/Mormon communities and wants to be 'like them.' Has 2 daughters who he refuses any physical interaction with. Married to a Jewish woman and spends a large part of his day talking about his in-laws. Obsessive about germs, washes hands with bleach and hot water and soap every few minutes. Will not drink from plastic, so does not drink anything during the work day. Eats 2 apples for hydration. Eats the same food every day, a greek yogurt, peanut butter on a rice cake, the apples. Refuses to eat any vegetables. Every day after work, he strips down in his garage and puts all of his clothes in the dryer on high to 'kill any germs' so they never enter his home, and makes his wife/kids do the same.

Outside of the Amish/Mormon side, it sounds like he has OCD and or serious anxiety issues. (And why can't he bring a glass or glass bottle from home?)

We work in a prison, so no glass

During covid stripping down / washing clothes before coming in after being in a prison seems like a good idea actually. Speaking of stripping...I had a boss who did a number of odd things including working in her office in her bra one day because she was too hot. When I knocked she said come in and when I said “oh my gosh! Sorry, I thought you said come in!” She said “I did. What’s up...” and just asked like a meeting in her bra was a normal thing. (This was at a white collar job.)