“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives,” wrote Annie Dillard. For most of us, a large portion of our days is spent at work — roughly 90,000 hours over a lifetime, or more than 13 years if you include overtime. That’s a sobering amount of time to spend somewhere you don’t enjoy.
A 2013 Gallup study covering 142 countries found that only 13 percent of workers worldwide feel engaged and committed to their jobs. That leaves a lot of unhappy employees. Can perks like higher pay, longer lunches, or free snacks fix workplace misery? Those things help, but research shows that friendly relationships with colleagues are among the most important contributors to job satisfaction.
One survey even found that strong relationships with coworkers are the top reason people stay in their jobs. If you struggle to get along with the people you work with, you’re far from alone. Social media is full of workplace gripes and absurd moments that perfectly capture the awkward, petty, and hilarious side of office life. The following tweets — from the petty to the ridiculous — showcase the many ways coworkers can test your patience, spark a laugh, or both.
When Revenge Is Social
@amishschool
A little LinkedIn mischief is the workplace equivalent of pranking your sibling’s phone.
When You’ll Do Anything to Spice Up the Day
@OhNoSheTwitnt
Tweaking your email signature can make the office a lot more interesting.
When You Just Can’t Relate
@online_shawn
Some sentiments just won’t work in certain settings — especially if Hallmark had anything to say about it.
When You’ll Do Anything to Avoid Them
@Ndeshi_M
Sometimes inventing an entire person is the only way to dodge a coworker you really don’t want to talk to.
When You Just Want to Eat Your Lunch in Peace
@AndyAsAdjective
For many, small talk and sandwiches simply do not mix.
When You Just DGAF
@FussySaffa
Some people treat certain office offenses as unforgivable — others couldn’t care less.
When You Go Along With It
@MissMalbec
Technology makes it easy to join in the joke — just hope the coworker isn’t on Twitter.
When Some Light Relief Is in Order
@RuinMyWeek
Claiming pride of place on a coworker’s desk is a bold way to get noticed — reactions will vary.
When the Internet Is Better
@AksharPathak
Sometimes a coworker insists they know it all, but Google usually knows better.
When You Don’t Want to Get Personal
@envydatropic
It’s wise to keep negative opinions about someone’s family to yourself if you want to stay on good terms.
When Revenge Is Vile
@Quartzjixler
Office food theft breeds ill will. If you’re not sure what you’re taking, don’t touch it.
When You’ve Heard Enough
@Swishergirl24
Sometimes you just want to get on with your work without interruptions.
When You Tell Them Straight(ish)
@heyJuliaJohns
A direct comment can be effective — whether it’s about coffee or another preferred beverage.
When You Get the Last Laugh
@WoodyLuvsCoffee
Sometimes the awkward moment reveals the true intent behind a colleague’s comment.
When You Can’t Help Yourself
@suesmith666
Some people simply lack a filter — and it shows.
When You’d Rather Have Puppies
@dafloydsta
Pets won’t talk back — though they may steal your lunch.
When You Don’t Do Small Talk
@mdob11
If small talk drives you mad, working from home might be preferable.
When You Want All the Donuts
@dhumann
Who says you can’t indulge in a dozen donuts? Let others buy their own.
When It’s One Card Too Many
@pencilcasey_
With cards continuously circulating, it’s easy to mix up occasions.
When Earbuds Aren’t Enough
@TheCatWhisprer
If colleagues want attention, they’ll make sure you hear them. Open-plan offices have their drawbacks.
When the Holiday Weekend Is Never Long Enough
@joshoholic
Most coworkers know you don’t need a reminder that the holiday weekend is over.
When Someone Just Won’t Thaw
@VicTORIaLeigh73
Some people never warm up, no matter how long you work with them.
When Their Laugh Makes You Die Inside
@chewypupmom
Returning to work after vacation is bad enough — especially when a colleague’s laugh makes it worse.
When You Gotta Make it Official
@CLAYMOORE
Complaining may not win friends, but sometimes it leads to change — or even advancement.
When You’re More Than Just Co-workers
@LoKarloFollow
Office romances are complicated. If you survive one, you can survive almost anything.
When You Actually, Weirdly, Miss Them
@MarkAgee
Working from home has its perks, but it can also make you strangely nostalgic for coworkers.
When Their Habits Are Just Ugh
@lmwortho
Office etiquette training would solve many annoyances.
When You Really Don’t Care About Their Kids
@IamKickz
No one thinks your kids are as endlessly entertaining as you do.
When You Talk in Foodstuffs
@Rachele_F
Pastrami on rye? Sometimes office chatter gets oddly specific.
When Baby Shark Attacks
@AndrewNBC12
Keep the children’s songs at home; the office isn’t the place.
When You Need a Fake Office Twitter
@Im_0n1
Sometimes a throwaway account is the safest way to vent.
When You Just Don’t Gel
@Cameron_H93
Not every meme lands. Not every joke is funny.
When You Feel Like a Fraud
@TheCatWhisprer
Many of us feel like impostors at work — you’re not alone.
When They Play You For a Fool
@AudMannerberg
No one enjoys being taken advantage of by a coworker.
When Rules Are Rules
@CoreyRadio
Follow all three rules and you might be the office villain.
When Your Bathroom Timing Is Way Off
@daniellloyd1
Bathroom timing at work can lead to awkward blame — there’s no escape.
When You’re a Philistine
@PhantomRat
Some behaviors are charming only when exhibited by grandparents.
When They See Everything
@lvanden1
They see everything. Everything.
When You Rarely Make Eye Contact
@Fort1st
Avoiding eye contact has become part of modern workplace culture.
When the Office Bathroom Is All Over the ‘Gram
@Jenniiiiiiferr
First-world problems, indeed.
When You Can Pee, But You Can’t Hide
@DanAaronKing
Some things are unavoidably visible — awkward but true.
When Everyone Is Too Polite
@hellakyra
Sometimes you just want someone to take a whole donut without asking.
When You Can’t Swipe Them Away
@jurisdoc741
If only you could swipe away annoying coworkers like a dating app.
When They Literally Infect You
@edjohnson7
When They’re Too Fake
@gabriellecoffee
Look after yourself first — and maybe the office hamster, too.
When You’re Too Nice to Say No
@cheyenne_creek
Being agreeable has its downsides; unsolicited cake is one of them.
When Open Plan Is a Bad Plan
@zarawesome
Open-plan offices are not for everyone; some people need quiet to thrive.
When You Just Want to Eat Your Lunch
@botaders
Some coworkers simply love the sound of their own voice — during your lunch, no less.
When You Just Want to Get on With Your Monday
@DragonflyJonez
When They Don’t Get You
@gerryhallcomedy
Sometimes coworkers just don’t understand you — cut them some slack.
Work life can be trying, absurd, and deeply human. Small acts of kindness, clearer boundaries, and a sense of humor go a long way toward making those 90,000 hours more bearable. And when all else fails, a well-timed tweet can capture the chaos perfectly.