What pranks can I pull on my boss?
May 9, 2008 1:31 PM Subscribe
Antagonize a superior. How to do it.....slowly?
So I have a superior, and I want to slowly drive them crazy. I don't have access to their desk, their computer, or their personal belongings. I don't wish to do anything illegal, physically or emotionally harmful, or anything that would blatently risk my job. Here are some things that have already been done by my coworkers:
A coworker cleaned up their desk and removed all personal belongings, to make it look like they were ready to leave their job. Another coworker emailed a spreadsheet with the print area set to the entire sheet, so that when sent to print it would come out as thousands of blank pages, another co-worker printed things on "resume paper" so that it looked like they were printing resumes. Another co worker asked in advance for time off for a doctor's appointment at 2pm then came to work in a suit and tie that day.
I know that psychologically this is passive agressive, I should seek a new job, etc etc. have a better outlook. I don't have any misunderstanding that some of you will tell me such things... For the rest of you, what kind of devious stunts can I pull to annoy this person in seemingly innocent ways? Points for creativity!
So I have a superior, and I want to slowly drive them crazy. I don't have access to their desk, their computer, or their personal belongings. I don't wish to do anything illegal, physically or emotionally harmful, or anything that would blatently risk my job. Here are some things that have already been done by my coworkers:
A coworker cleaned up their desk and removed all personal belongings, to make it look like they were ready to leave their job. Another coworker emailed a spreadsheet with the print area set to the entire sheet, so that when sent to print it would come out as thousands of blank pages, another co-worker printed things on "resume paper" so that it looked like they were printing resumes. Another co worker asked in advance for time off for a doctor's appointment at 2pm then came to work in a suit and tie that day.
I know that psychologically this is passive agressive, I should seek a new job, etc etc. have a better outlook. I don't have any misunderstanding that some of you will tell me such things... For the rest of you, what kind of devious stunts can I pull to annoy this person in seemingly innocent ways? Points for creativity!
This post was deleted for the following reason: revengefilter is against the rules, sorry. -- jessamyn
You could be so good at your job that you are offered your superior's job.
Points for creativity
This is not a contest. Nobody is keeping score. Grow up.
posted by dersins at 1:40 PM on May 9, 2008 [2 favorites]
Points for creativity
This is not a contest. Nobody is keeping score. Grow up.
posted by dersins at 1:40 PM on May 9, 2008 [2 favorites]
I want to slowly drive them crazy
I don't wish to do anything ... emotionally harmful
Does not compute.
posted by desjardins at 1:43 PM on May 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
I don't wish to do anything ... emotionally harmful
Does not compute.
posted by desjardins at 1:43 PM on May 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I should mention, none of these can appear as pranks, it's not that kind of relationship... These need to look like honest mistakes, error etc that happen because of a lack of judgement on the superior's part, or that no one can be to blame for.
posted by samuel1613 at 1:44 PM on May 9, 2008
posted by samuel1613 at 1:44 PM on May 9, 2008
Every couple of days, drop a small, random-sized screw, bolt, washer, or nut on or around their desk.
posted by bondcliff at 1:45 PM on May 9, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 1:45 PM on May 9, 2008 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: love the screw, nut, bolt idea. that's perfect and I will implement immediately. Yes I don't want to do anything emotionally harmful like have someone call and say his house is on fire then hang up. But something more slow and insideous.
posted by samuel1613 at 1:50 PM on May 9, 2008
posted by samuel1613 at 1:50 PM on May 9, 2008
Response by poster: Annoyatron, as awesome as it sounds, once found, would clearly be someone's doing. I need something that has no clear planning involved... "seems to just have happened". Most office pranks, like tape on the mouse, etc. fall under "planned pranks" and thus must be ruled out.
posted by samuel1613 at 1:53 PM on May 9, 2008
posted by samuel1613 at 1:53 PM on May 9, 2008
If they have their own printer:
Take a stack of blank printer paper, every 30 or so pages, insert a page with the words “I’m not wearing any pants”, or something equally ridiculous, written on it. Put the stack of paper in their paper tray.
posted by bondcliff at 1:55 PM on May 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
Take a stack of blank printer paper, every 30 or so pages, insert a page with the words “I’m not wearing any pants”, or something equally ridiculous, written on it. Put the stack of paper in their paper tray.
posted by bondcliff at 1:55 PM on May 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
I heard about this prank from a friend ...
The boss subscribed to a few weekly journals/news magazines, and every month or so, he would sift through them and toss a stack in the trash. Someone would gather these up and place them underneath the other magazines/journals in the stack, so he would be confused when sifting through them the next time thinking he'd already tossed them out. This could of course be replicated by rescuing papers from the recycling bin, etc, and putting them back on your boss's desk underneath a stack of "current" papers.
posted by sararah at 1:55 PM on May 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
The boss subscribed to a few weekly journals/news magazines, and every month or so, he would sift through them and toss a stack in the trash. Someone would gather these up and place them underneath the other magazines/journals in the stack, so he would be confused when sifting through them the next time thinking he'd already tossed them out. This could of course be replicated by rescuing papers from the recycling bin, etc, and putting them back on your boss's desk underneath a stack of "current" papers.
posted by sararah at 1:55 PM on May 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: replacing blank paper with a piece that had a random "-" or something would be more effective, will see if I can do that. The recycling idea may be another possibility if I can find something suitable.
posted by samuel1613 at 1:58 PM on May 9, 2008
posted by samuel1613 at 1:58 PM on May 9, 2008
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have everyone in the office sign a condolences card for them and leave it on the desk...
erase all of the speed dial numbers on th phone...
order a pizza to their house...
cancel the internet...
this is fun....
posted by dawdle at 1:39 PM on May 9, 2008