My Coworkers Are the Reason HR Keeps the Lights On

Let’s be honest — work is work. Meetings, deadlines, unread emails, and those mysterious tea spoons in the kitchen sink that no one claims. But somehow, through all of it, I ended up with a group of coworkers who feel less like colleagues and more like a sitcom family. You know, the kind that could never be allowed on live television.

After so many years together, I can officially say: these people are family. The kind of family who will cover for you when you’re making mistake, make you laugh during a meeting you were 100% trying to take seriously, and pass snacks under the table like we’re 12 and hiding them from the teacher.

Speaking of which — let’s talk about meetings. Or as we call them: “Try Not To Laugh: Extreme Edition.” There’s always that one moment where we lock eyes across and suddenly it’s like we’re back in middle school. Someone snorts. Someone turns red. Someone (me) is pretending to listen to what the boss is saying, but is actually saying “DON’T LAUGH” in capital letters in my head 37 times.

And don’t even get me started on the stuff we’ve hidden under our desks. Full-on snack drawers...

What I love the most? The fact that age difference simply doesn't matter. Some of us are in our 20s, some are close to retirement, and yet we all somehow act like we're on a break together. Age means nothing when you're all hanging out over despair-flavored coffee and discussing the latest gossip together.

So here’s to the people who make work bearable. Who laugh when you laugh, cry when you cry (mostly from laughter), and remind you that you're not just surviving the 9-to-5 — you're making memories in it.

Your Turn!

Got any funny, awkward, or totally unprofessional (but in the best way) workplace stories? Leave a comment — especially if you’ve ever laughed in a meeting you weren’t supposed to, hidden snacks like they were classified material, or bonded with your coworkers in beautifully ridiculous ways. Let’s hear it!