27-year-old analyst clashes with a marketing coworker who tried to grab his laptop mid-project, leading to a loud altercation that drew security, escalating into petty sabotage in the office: 'He made me miss a deadline'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Aug 15, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

This could have been the written script for an episode of The Office, it's bold, out-there, and just a little bit concerning…I'm sure there's been a time (or two) when we've wanted to get our coworkers to stop nagging us with their condescending presence, but we never would have actually gotten to the point of a chokehold. 

Imagine causing such a scene over a laptop that the office security has to come in and separate you and your entitled co-worker, whilst every employee you've ever loved or hated has all their eyes on you. You were just trying to get your work done when this man thought that he was king of the castle, and that whatever he says goes…newsflash, buddy, just because his laptop doesn't have any battery for his presentation, doesn't mean you should have to put all your responsibilities at a red light.

But wait… It's getting more outrageous! Your co-worker decides that the best way to get back at you for refusing to give them your laptop during their unplanned emergency would be to sabotage your every move, ensuring your ultimate destruction…Okay, maybe this sounds a bit intense for The Office, it feels as though it's got more of a Louis Litt twist to it!

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  • We are starting to think his coworker would be better suited in a kindergarten than in a glass skyscraper…Take his briefcase away and replace it with a backpack, trade the morning coffee in for some gummy worms…and there you have it. If he's going to act like a kid in a candy store, he is going to be treated like one! 

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    coworkers getting into a physical argument in the office
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    Coworker almost started a fight because I wouldn’t give him my laptop

    I am 27 and work as a data analyst. Last week I was on a tight deadline for a client project. I had been working on it for two days
    via harmonious_crush
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    straight and was just about to finish when a coworker from marketing came over and said he needed my laptop for his
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    presentation because his had d d. I told him I was in the middle of something important, that he
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    should just be patient until... but before I could finish my statement he said he was in the middle of something important
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    too and started reaching for my laptop anyway. I pulled it back and things got tense. People nearby stopped what they were
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    doing and started watching. It got loud enough that security came over because they thought it was going to turn into a fight.
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    security guard talking on his walkie-talkie
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    He walked off angry and later told our manager that I was being uncooperative. Luckily my manager backed me up, but since
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    then he has been holding a grudge. He ignores me in group chats, avoids working with me, and mid week he even left out
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    important information I needed for my report, which made me miss a deadline. It still amazes me that some people think their work is
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    automatically more important than everyone else's and will go as far as trying to take someone else's equipment to get their way.
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    Apart-Ad-6518 Will go as far as trying to take someone else's equipment Security had to get involved...why is he even still employed let alone sabotaging other ppls deadlines?
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    Infamous-Let4387 Document and a report to HR for a hostile work environment. This coworker is completely out of line.
    via Infamous-Let4387
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    Braced Rhombus Odd. I work in IT. If we issue a laptop it goes to a specific user, who has to sign a document laying out that the laptop is theirs until we rescind it. If their laptop breaks, they call us, we have spares. No one would try to take it, like kids fighting over a candy bar.
    via BracedRhombus
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    No_Routine6430 My favorite quote: "lack of planning on your part, does not constitute an emergency on my part." Maybe charge your laptop before an important meeting eh? Some people.
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    Analyst working on his laptop in the office
    via Tima Miroshnichenko

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

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    Swansboy Just report said guy to your manager & make sure you cc the person in charge. Saying due to said guy acting like a child. He would not give me. details to said report. Whilst i was doing it out of my important work he tried to hands. As I was working, he got told off by manger name, please deal with him.
    via Swansboy
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    MGrantSF If someone tried to take someone else's work laptop forcibly at my workplace and it escalated to security being called, they would be fired and walked out immediately.
    via MGrantSF
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    Dis_engaged23 Document what has happened from the initial incident to date. He should have suffered consequences for trying to extort your laptop. He must face consequences for retaliating when you were clearly in the right. Report to your manager, cc to his manager.
    via Dis_engaged23
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    Particular Ticket_20 In my company if you let someone use your laptop you'd have to explain it to IT and probably sit through the IT security training again.
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    pappyvanwinkle1111 He's avoiding you? Sounds like you came out the big winner.
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    Right_Cucumber5775 Most all companies issue the laptops to each employee, and it is generally not to be shared. You need to report to your manager his behavior, which is creating a hostile work environment for you.
    via Right_Cucumber5775
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    PdxPhoenixActual Issue the report w a line re the missing info as not provided by this person.
    via PdxPhoenixActual
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    DOOMisLoveDOOMisLife Your coworker realizes laptops will work immediately after being plugged into the charger right? Like his problem would've been solved in less than a minute. If he lost it that's on him.
    via DOOMisLoveDOOMisLife

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boss security antiwork workplace-stories important employee drama presentation marketing work coworkers co-workers argument battery workplace competitive laptop analyst
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