'Coworker called out for a week, but stopped by to pick up her birthday cake': Employees baffled by coworker who takes off 5 days for "muscle spasms," then feels better in time for birthday treats

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Nov 7, 2025 3:00 PM EST

What in the world was this coworker trying to prove by showing up on her birthday after a 5-day break? 

Some people take their birthdays extremely seriously, and will spend their entire birthday month making sure everyone is celebrating them at all times. You probably have at least one "birthday month" or "birthday week" kind of person in your life. They've decided that this time period is crucial to celebrating them, and will often plan countdowns to the big day, or throw multiple parties so they can rake in all those gifts and attention. There's nothing inherently wrong with taking a maximalist approach to birthday celebrations, but behind your back, your friends might start rolling their eyes. And for this person, her coworkers were left with their jaws dropped after realizing that she'd called out for an entire week (citing a flimsy excuse) just to celebrate her big day. 

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  • The coworker's excuse is honestly kind of funny. She claimed to have a terrible "muscle spasm" in her arm that prevented her from doing the heavy lifting of her job, and by heavy lifting, I mean picking up the phone. She also had to sit at a desk, which was also apparently too much to bear. I don't know about you, but most muscle spasms I've had pass by in like, 30 seconds? I'm not saying this woman was faking her excuse, but… she probably could've picked a more realistic injury to fake, like a twisted ankle or slipped spinal disc, if she wanted some time away from the office. 

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    'Coworker called out for a week, but stopped by to pick up her birthday cake'

    Cheezburger Image 10573214720
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • 02
    My coworker called out for 5 days due to a "muscle spasm" in her arm. She said she was in pain to the point she was unable to perform her job duties which include sitting at a
    via u/flirtybirdie888
  • 03
    desk and answering the phone. She conveniently called out on her birthday week. My other coworkers & I planned a birthday celebration
    via u/flirtybirdie888
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    for her on the Monday she called out. We got her flowers, cake, and a gift card. I asked if we could FaceTime to sing happy birthday and she said yes, but she
    via u/flirtybirdie888
  • 05
    didn't pick up the phone. I ended up just sending her a picture of the gifts we got her to bring her some joy and let her know we were thinking of her.
    via u/flirtybirdie888
  • 06
    Despite her muscle spasm, she decided to stop by to pick up her cake and flowers and then dipped for the rest of the week. She ended up getting written up.
    via u/flirtybirdie888
  • 07

    This person is asking the important questions!

    Far-... Did she use the hurt arm to lift the cake
    via u/Far-Character-7024

    If it was an entire cake that she was taking, that must've required her to use her "spasming" arm, right? 

  • 08
    1lookwhipl... When I was in college I was a server at Red Lobster. One host called in sick for her shift, but then
    via u/1lookwhiplash
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    proceeded to come in that evening to eat with her mom →
    via u/1lookwhiplash
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    Elegant_M... Don't understand coworkers like this. Just request off beforehand if you want the time off.
    via u/Elegant_Molasses9316
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    Why screw everyone else over by calling in day of when you're not even ill.
    via u/Elegant_Molasses9316
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    No-Chipm... She should have sent someone to pick it up for her
    via u/No-Chipmunk-2559
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    Cheezburger Image 10573221376
    via Oleg Ivanov For Unsplash+

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

  • 14
    Tam... Sounds like she's going to be unemployed soon
    via u/Tamara6060
  • 15
    neverwhere... I really love my boss but she made a comment about how she doesn't understand people who choose to work on their birthday vs.
    via u/neverwhere420
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    taking the day off. We are retail, she is on the corporate side. Sometimes we want the day off and can't get it. We don't always have the choice. It really rubbed me the wrong way.
    via u/neverwhere420
  • 17
    Aggressive-... Is her sick leave unlimited? If not, then don't worry about it. She'll run out of leave if she continues the abuse.
    via u/Aggressive-Click8055
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    There is not much to be gained by digging into it to deeply.
    via u/Aggressive-Click8055
  • 19

    Not everyone was upset by this person's stunt

    affectionate... An icon
    via u/affectionateanarchy8
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    cakivalue Nom nom. Cramping twitchy muscles do love cake too. I love it when people set out to grift but are undone by aspects of
    via u/cakivalue
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    their own nature. Because she could have ordered a cake for delivery. Or made a cake. She could have had her cake and eaten it but got done
    via u/cakivalue
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    in by needing the specific office cake all because it was "hers".
    via u/cakivalue

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Tags

cake terrible coworkers boss workplace-stories birthdays jobs job birthday funny story bosses work coworkers workplace funny
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