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My coworker absolutely panicked when someone said “HR wants to see you”

· 3 min read

Ever been in an office where the only thing more nerve‑wracking than a Monday morning stand‑up is a simple hallway knock? Meet Devin, the human embodiment of a caffeinated squirrel on a sugar high. He’s the kind of colleague who turns a normal “quick form” request into a full‑scale melodrama that would make a soap opera jealous.

The Scene​

It was a typical Tuesday. The fluorescent lights hummed, the coffee machine whined, and Devin was already doing the office version of a “ready for anything” pose—eyes darting, fingers twitching, and a suspicious amount of granola bars in his desk drawer.

Our supervisor, ever the Zen master, casually dropped the bomb:

“Hey Devin, HR wants to see you for a quick form.”

The room held its breath. Devin’s face turned the color of a ripe tomato that’s just been taken from the fridge and left out for too long. He whispered, as if he’d just been caught in a secret society:

“Oh no… it’s finally happening.”

The supervisor, completely unfazed, continued his regular day:

“Devin, it’s literally about your emergency contact form.”

But Devin was already spiraling. He launched into a series of confessions that would make a priest blush:

  • “I didn’t mean to take two granola bars last week.”
  • “I swear I thought the meeting was optional.”
  • “The stapler thing wasn’t me but I get why you’d think that.”

It was a perfect storm of anxiety, granola, and office supplies. Meanwhile, HR was just trying to get a signature on a form. The irony? None of it mattered.

The Aftermath​

Devin finally marched into HR, red-faced and ready to confess his sins. He came back 10 minutes later with the most dramatic gasp you’ve ever seen:

“It was just a missing signature.”

The office breathed a collective sigh of relief, but the legend lived on. Now, whenever someone asks him anything—even the simplest question—Devin responds like a Victorian orphan who’s just learned he’s in trouble:

“Am I in trouble?”

We love him for his dramatic flair, but we also hope he gets the support he needs. After all, if a paper form can trigger a full-blown panic attack, we’re all in for a wild ride.

Comments​

  • Poor Devin. I hope that he gets the support he needs.
  • I need to know what happened to the poor stapler.
  • I can relate to Devin. I’ve been through some stuff, and I’m bad about jumping to conclusions too. Sounds like he’s a nice guy. Hopefully he gets the support he needs.
  • I believe his previous job environment was quite toxic.
  • Can confirm for myself.
    I’m currently working at a terrific place but I spiral frequently and worry about my job security because the last couple places were toxic and difficult.
    Been here a year and a half, still worry a lot despite the green flags.

TL;DR​

HR just wanted a signature, not a hostage situation. Devin’s dramatic reaction is a cautionary tale: always read the fine print, and maybe keep the granola bars in a separate drawer.