'I unplugged my phone': Guy discovers he's been answering colleague's calls for years, unplugs his phone so they have to answer them

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Nov 15, 2023 7:00 AM EST

Getting on with the daily grind can often be a wearisome chore, especially when you find yourself needing to do your coworker's tasks for them in addition to your own. It's not like you had enough to do as it was. Now you're busy going around picking up after them as well, and to make matters worse, you know, mentioning it to your boss won't do a thing to solve the problem and might even end up with you being labeled as not being a "team player."

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  • Without a doubt, finding out that you've been needlessly and unknowingly turned into your colleague's secretary, answering their calls for years while they sat there and watched their phone ring—well, that would probably send you over the edge… Indeed, it did in this instance. Upon accidentally discovering that their phone was tied to their coworker's (and that they just happened to be the only one who ever answered), they decided to unplug their phone and leave their colleague to answer all the phone calls for their shared team.

  • 01
    Posted by u/Get Off MyUnicorn70 2 hours ago I guess I won't be answering the work phone for at least two years I've worked in an office for almost two years now. I have a teammate with the same job title, but with a slightly different role. Let's refer to her as Lola. We essentially work together as a team, working on our separate tasks to complete shared projects.
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 02
    I answered a phone call at my desk a couple of months ago that was for her and went to verify the information to transfer the call to her. This is something the receptionist normally did, so I wasn't sure what her specific extension was. Here's how the conversation went down: OP: You have phone call. What is your extension?
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 03
    Lola: It's for me? That's weird. OP: Why is that weird? Lola: It's usually for you, so I don't answer it. OP: What are you talking about? (I really am stumped.) Lola: When someone calls either of us, both our phones ring. It's usually not for me, so I don't answer it.
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 04
    OP: It's normally not for me either. I just take a message or get the call to the right person. As I'm trying to do now. Lola doesn't really have anything to say about that, I get her extension and then transfer the call to her. Back in my office, I'm kind of steaming. For almost two years, I have been taking every call and message when the receptionist is away. My teammate had been simply ignoring the phone that entire time, leaving all the effort to me.
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 05
    I looked at my phone and thought, "I wish I could just unplug it." Then it occurred to me that the cord extended from a port on the floor and connected under my phone. The phone essentially sits on top of the cord with a gap space under the phone to accommodate the cord. So, I unplugged my phone and placed it on top of the cord so it simply looks as though it's plugged in.
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 06
    I have no idea who is answering the phone now when the receptionist is away from her desk, but I guarantee I won't plug in that phone again unless someone figures it out, and then I'll simply play dumb. I mean, who would do something like that on purpose? It's a small anarchy, but I'll take it.
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 07
    Koolest Kat 2 hr. ago I love it. Once upon a time a co worker, unbeknownst to me, had forwarded her work cell calls to my cell. It wasn't a lot of calls but our work flows were not overlapping. I'd do the right thing, take the message and Team it over to her. No sweat until I overheard a similar snarky remark from her about me being her personal secretary. Yeah, I wasn't happy.
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 08
    Then I found I could forward her forwarded call to another number!! Oh, Joy!! I moved it between phone and some I Curious lines that people actually answered. Her meeting with HR left her very red in the face and clutching her pearls. She also started receiving emails on the company server for services (never leave your browser open when you want to talk your peers) ranging from Three way hook ups, lice removal and LDS info.... 482 Reply Share
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 09
    GetOffMyUnicorn 70 OP 2 hr. ago I am absolutely keeping this one in my back pocket. 163 Reply Share OkAd5059 1 hr. ago . 83 Remember, the church of Scientology never stops contacting you once they have your address. ●●● Reply Share
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 10
    the_greek_italian 1 hr. ago . Boss: "OP, why did no one answer the phone yesterday when the receptionist wasn't here?" OP: "Beats me. My phone didn't ring all day. 82 motiontosuppress 42 min. ago Salt-N-Pepa's backup singers: True! Reply Share 13 Reply Share
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 11
    PapaKraken 2 hr. ago A gag we used to do with the telephone handset was to put a piece of clear tape over the pins in the cord connector. You could do the same, but on the pins for the wall connection. Unless it's a VOIP and your computer is daisied to the phone. 38 Reply Share ●●● Mdrim13 29 min. ago That's what broke the watergate scandal, essentially. That shows ill intent. A simple unplugged line could be anything and is likely accidental. 24 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 12
    Comfortable_Fig1552 1 hr. ago . While I love the petty revenge, as an IT technician I hate it haha! If I get a ticket in the next week or so about a phone not working, and it's just unplugged.... Lol 37 Reply Share ●●●
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70
  • 13
    NotAMeatPopsicle 44 min. ago So when the receptionist is back, she can't forward valid calls to you now? Reply Share 12 . Piddy3825 55 min. ago petty revenge - best served unplugged... 8 · Reply Share
    via u/GetOffMyUnicorn70

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terrible coworkers workplace discussion workplace-stories-reddit workplace-stories in-the-workplace toxic-workplace workplace-story tales-from-the-workplace coworkers workplace creativity in the workplace coworker
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