HR green lights employee's April Fool's prank in the office bathroom, employee is subsequently fired for it: ‘[HR] even told me what washroom to put it in’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
May 10, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Though we're over a month past April Fool's Day, we are actively seeing the aftereffects of a lighthearted work joke gone bad. If Human Resources gives an employee the green light to put up a funny, harmless sticker in the employee bathroom, you'd think their boss would equally get a kick out of it.

We aren't allowed to make jokes in the workforce anymore. And no, I'm not talking about the sexist jokes you hear at the watercooler by select 50-somethings who think they can make passes at their 23-year-old coworkers. I'm talking about some lighthearted fun in good faith. At work, sometimes acknowledging the elephant in the room—the fact that nobody would be there if they didn't have to be—ironically uplifts employee morale. 

The boss in this next story decides to fire an employee after they put a sticker in their company bathroom, which was HR-approved. Without a sense of humor, we're simply automatons. Scroll to read the full story.

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  • Usually, HR is the person to shut ish down when situations arise. The employee demonstrated maturity and leadership solely by going to HR and confirming this is a harmless prank that would likely be enjoyed by many. Commenters believe the employee was sacked for reasons not mentioned, but I think the boss is just that sensitive. 

  • EMPLOYEES MUST STOP CRYING BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK "It's like he expected a fight from me. Or to beg for my job. But that's not my character."
    via Dear-Description3215

  • "Got fired because of a sticker."

    I put it in our staff washroom At the top of the mirror Everyone besides the boss knew what I was doing because I had joked about doing it as an April fools joke and HR said to do it and even told me what washroom to put it in.
    via Dear-Description3215
  • I went into work the next day and noticed all my things weren't where I left them so I knew immediately I was getting suspended for it. I had full
    via Dear_Description3215
  • intentions of admitting it and speaking with him about it so that's what I continued to do that morning. I didn't want anyone getting blamed.
    via Dear_Description3215
  • As soon as I went in his office I explained to him that as a leader I shouldn't have done that. And said sorry. He then told me we have to let you go. Not sure why he said we, HR was not there.
    via Dear_Description3215
  • I asked him if there was anything that I had done in the past that betrayed his trust like this had. And he brought up the pushback I gave him about toonies. About
    via Dear_Description3215
  • four months ago he wanted to stop buying toonies for the safe fund and cash registers. I told him that it was silly and we would just burn through more loonies. It
    via Dear_Description3215
  • turned into an argument. I told him I don't want to hand guests 4 loonies back. No one likes a pocket full of change and his argument was then use debit.
    via Dear_Description3215
  • So anyways with that as his reasoning which in my opinion, there's no reasoning with. So, I said okay thanks for everything if you need me I'm here and I said goodbye to the morning cleaner and left.
    via Dear_Description3215
  • 10 months I worked there and not once was I written up or suspended. Part of me is so sad because I spent so much time focusing on making sure everyone felt comfortable and confident so we could have a successful shift.
    via Dear_Description3215
  • My heart is broken because a lot of the staff believed in me as a leader. My ex-boss cried too after everything was said. Which I thought was weird. It's like he expected a fight from me. Or to beg for my job. But that's not my character.
    via Dear_Description3215
  • I need to bring my uniform back still. I don't want to cry so I've been waiting. I know everyone's going to ask questions and be super happy/sad to see me. And I want to be able to handle that.
    via Dear_Description3215
  • Anyways, Should I go to the labour board or is it a bad case of he said she said because ultimately I have no written proof HR said to do it. I did get approved for E.I thankfully.
    via Dear_Description3215
  • EMPLOYEES MUST STOP CRYING BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK
    via Dear_Description3215
  • DisastrousOne3950 Not worth being fired over. Apparently someone got their feelings hurt, though.
    via DisastrousOne3950
  • the-radio-b ard This is wild, we have these signs at work in the employee-only areas. No one cares.
    via the-radio-b***ard
  • TheRealDeJoy Were you like a shift team lead at mcdonalds or something? That is something insane to fire someone over, they probably just wanted you gone anyways and used this as an excuse. Get a union job and you wont have to work for little fire you for any reason. who can
    via TheRealDeJoy
  • Definitely call the labor board and do not admit fault for anything. Wasn't you. Take it as a life lesson, never admit to breaking any rules at work.
    via TheRealDeJoy
  • coolranchdoritosbby We had this in my bathroom at my old job, and it was my manager who put it up lol. We all thought it was hilarious. People are weird to get offended by this
    via coolranchdoritosbby

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boss workplace-stories hr bosses Professional At Work work coworkers reddit story april fools workplace Horrible Bosses reddit thread April Fools Day bad bosses Reddit
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