'I don't have a degree': 20+ Secrets people are hiding from their coworkers

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Apr 21, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

What are you hiding from your coworkers? 

There's fierce debate online about just how much of yourself you should bring to the workplace. It totally depends on the environment: there are some companies where you need to be 100% professional at all times, and there aren't a lot of opportunities to make small talk with coworkers. However, at many jobs, it can be nice to get to know the dude in the cubicle next to you, or the woman who's ringing up customers a few feet away from you. 

I know, I know, some professionals will tell you not to share anything with your coworkers. And that's a fine mindset to have… but knowing your coworker's personal life tea is pretty great, honestly. It builds some camaraderie and gives you something to look forward to during those long working hours. I think it's okay to talk to your coworkers about personal things as long as you know that anything that comes out of your mouth could make it's way to HR or your boss. Just have discretion and you should be fine. 

Next, read about some really bizarre thrift shop and online marketplace finds: "I felt it staring at me from across the thrift shop." 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    'I keep my birthday a secret... Don't know how they haven't caught on yet'
    via Sara Cervera on Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    Art_Vandalay_Ca... I pretend to like my co- workers' jokes, even though I hate them.
    via u/Art_Vandalay_Cancer
  • 03
    [deleted] That I don't have a degree.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 04
    chief_running_jo... Sometimes I visit websites that are not work-related.
    via u/chief_running_joke
  • 05
    iamzombus I'm in the exact same boat as the OP, except I'm not okay with it and I want it to change. I'm also embarrassed by it and try to avoid any relationship type discussions at work.
    via u/iamzombus
  • 06
    Surax I, like many Redditers I suspect, am a nerd. I've always tried to hide that because I've been made fun of in the past. At one summer job, we were talking about our plans for the weekend. I was going to a sci-fi convention. Normally this is something I would have kept to myself but I thought this was a good
    via u/Surax
  • 07
    environment. So I told them about the con. That was a mistake. After laughing ensued, one of them said that one of her favourite movies was Trekkies because of how funny the nerds looked. I didn't say anything to that but I learned my lesson. I will never again come out as a nerd to coworkers unless I am 100% sure they are one too.
    via u/Surax
  • 08
    [deleted] Thankfully I'm a good actor, nobody at the office knows I'm lonely and miserable. outside of work.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 09
    XXChevalierXx I'm 32, never dated, nothing. I think my co-workers know but they don't seem to care. I work with some nice people. They've told me crazy stories about when they have dated but they don't ask about my personal life, a few know I have major problems but their cool.
    via u/XXChevalierXx
  • 10
    manny_plaquiao... That I'm only friendly with most of the because I don't want to create an awkward/tense workplace. I don't really like any of them.
    via u/manny_plaquiao_dds
  • 11
    Bows NToes21 I really do not know what I am talking about half the time and I google everything my boss tells me to do that I don't know how to. He thinks I am a genius when actually I just learned how to do it that very day.
    via u/Bows NToes21
  • 12
    Yoshi_Girl The real reason I moved to Chicago from California was because I was homeless and sleeping in a car. A close friend here found out and wanted to help me. It sounds stupid to lie about, but it's a personal experience and so far I've just told people I moved because I wanted something different.
    via u/Yoshi_Girl
  • 13
    metaimmortal That I listen to black metal... they just wouldn't understand.
    via u/metaimmortal
  • 14
    [deleted] Haven't explicitly told my coworkers that I'm dating someone else on the team, but many have probably figured it out. Also that I'm superficially successful: nice job, cars, house, friends, gf, but I feel unfulfilled inside most of the time.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 15
    UrDraco I keep my birthday a secret so I can call in sick. Just turned 28 and haven't had to work on my birthday yet. Don't know how they haven't caught on yet...
    via u/UrDraco
  • 16
    OneHotMinute People think i get sick often, I don't. I just decide to destroy myself drinking and can't physically work the next day.
    via u/OneHotMinute
  • 17
    therealabefrohman I am smart. When I'm at work, I dumb myself down to fit in with my co-workers. They're nice, but I feel ostracized sometimes.
    via u/therealabefrohman
  • 18
    catlady613 That I still play pokemon. Hey, I'm a geek, I love being a geek, and all my friends. know I'm a geek. But my co- workers don't quite know the extent.
    via u/catlady613
  • 19
    pigsbladder Well it's kinda in the past but I worked at a place for years, and I really hated all of them. Total talk about each other behind their backs, lie, throw each other under the bus etc. I knew I was leaving probably 3-4 months before. saying anything. So I would chat to my friends online and reveal everything about
    via u/pigsbladder
  • 20
    these people and what they did to each other etc. Well, long story short I knew my replacement was getting my old computer so I left the logs on the computer for them to find. About a month after I left (and keeping up the rouse I liked them) I heard from someone that didn't work in the office about them all finding the logs and reading
    via u/pigsbladder
  • 21
    the sh I talked about them. They had to go to a motivational conference because I guess I ruined the moral in the office. Job done.
    via u/pigsbladder
  • 22
    Nitero I absolutely hate my supervisor and want to call her out every day. Not only does she never actually login to a server and do anything, but she 1) doesnt even do her supervisor duties, that gets passed off to us. 2) She is a horrible person who says the most
    via u/Nitero
  • 23
    r de things that a supervisor should NEVER say. 3) Thinks she is better than everyone and makes a point to make sure everyone knows.
    via u/Nitero
  • 24
    [deleted] That I hate all of them with every ounce of my being.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 25
    Cheezburger Image 10495681536
    via Pablo Merchán Montes For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 26
    amishzombie I'm 34 and have never had more than a learner's permit. Even then, I never got my permit until I was probably 19 or 20. I've just kept renewing it since then. I know how to drive, and have been told I drive very well... I've just never gone to take the test for my license.
    via u/amishzombie
  • 27
    LascielCoin I'm a 20 year old girl, never been on a date, not kissed, held hands anything. I know it's not 34 but it's hard being around people who had gone through all that when they were 13. I don't know anyone else in the same situation so I just keep it a secret from everyone, not just co- workers.
    via u/LascielCoin
  • 28
    [deleted] That despite my tales of conquest and adventure, I'm actually pretty lonely most of the time. Most of my co- workers have wives and kids and etc, so I'm the go to guy for living vicariously through around here.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 29
    6secret6 The manager is my uncle. More than five years there and no one knows. It's actually fun, if you can ignore the guilt that comes. with it.
    via u/6secret6
  • 30
    MSGinSC That I'm in a relationship with an ex co-worker.
    via u/MSGinSC
  • 31
    wanderingalice That I browse reddit.. a lot..
    via u/wanderingalice
  • 32
    mugwumps I always sidestep that I met my husband on World of Warcraft. He's from England and I'm from America so we get a lot of questions about how we met.
    via u/mugwumps
  • 33
    pixichic07 At work I'm super nice to everyone, proper, well dressed and well spoken. They think I'm this sweet little angel. In my day to day life I'm blunt and swear like a sailor.
    via u/pixichic07

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

terrible coworkers boss workplace-stories jobs employee work stories job bosses work coworkers working employees workplace coworker
Scroll Down For The Next Article