Employee drives 2 hours into office to find that nobody else is there, coworkers didn't tell them not to come in: 'Even the newer staff knew not to come in, but nobody is answering'

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 1, 2026 10:00 AM EST

Nobody likes to feel like everyone is hanging out without them, even at work. 

It's a tough thing to realize that you're on the outskirts of a group. Maybe this happened to you when you were in school, and you felt left out of the group. It's happened to everyone at some point, and it's a crushing feeling. When you find out that you're not in the group chat, not invited to the party, or generally being excluded from something. It can make us feel like that rejected little kid again, and not in a good way. It triggers our old fears of feeling like an outcast. 

Luckily, this tends to happen less and less as you get older. You find out who your people are, and you get good at identifying them. You don't worry about the parties that you're not invited to because you don't want to be there. You'd rather be exactly where you are, with your friends and with your interests. You realize that you're not everyone's cup of tea, and everyone is not yours. This is a beautiful part of growing up. We get more self-assured and more okay with ourselves. But sometimes something will just come up out of the blue and make you remember how you felt all those years ago. It can even happen to us at work, which is sort of the last place you'd expect it to. That's what happened in this story, where one employee learned the hard way that he was being left out. 

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  • A man sits at a table alone in an empty office
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

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

  • But even weirder than being left out of social plans, they were being left out of work. This might sound like a lucky break… You don't have to do your usual tasks, but they weren't sure if it would spell more trouble for his career. After making the long haul into his job, he realized that nobody else showed up. We are in the weird in-between Christmas and New Year's time, so that could explain it, but he wasn't ready to rest on his laurels. Read on to see what happened in this story and see what commenters had to say. 

  • 2hr commute, I am the only person from my entire office at the office, no indication it was closed or remote today.

    What should I do since I'm essentially ghosted by my manager last two weeks and have no assignments? Even the newer staff knew not to come in, but nobody is answering how they knew.
    via u/takingphotosmakingdo
  • The schedule email says to be in office, and yet only a few cars are here. Keep in mind I've been fighting a narcissist isolation tactic last month or so, and flying monkeys keeping me from info/meetings/tasks as well.
    via u/takingphotosmakingdo
  • I just want to build things and help people, why is it I'm seen as a threat for wanting to do so?
    via u/takingphotosmakingdo
  • A man sits in a chair in an empty office looking at something on a laptop
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

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

  • Commenters wondered if there might be more going on here.

    _Q23 Use this time to search for a better job for you?
    via u/_Q23
  • cmurdy1 Specialize in sitting around doing nothing
    via u/cmurdy1
  • crazy_meals Once your a threat, your a target and people will do close to anything to remove thst threat. Note things down with dates, adding context and the impact (not your feelings). Start prepping for an exit or a fight!!
    via u/crazy_meals
  • Chefblogger they trying to bully you because they whant you to quit (is cheaper for them then firing you)
    via u/Chefblogger
  • Mistaamewmew Tell their boss. They are sidelining you to advance their own careers on the companies dime.
    via u/Mistaamewmew
  • Emm_withoutha_L-... Look for another job cus it sounds like they're going to fire you soon. Seriously just start looking hard and move on if you find one.
    via u/Emm_withoutha_L-88
  • Beb... Why do you think the staff is not answering how they knew not to come in? I can understand HR and Managers ignoring you since it was intentional, but do you think the entire staff was in on it as well?
    via u/Beberuth1131
  • Shu... Go home and don't go back into the office until Jan 5th. Just work from home like everyone else. Bonus points, bring in bagels, muffins, or doughnuts on that day for your Co-workers. You really need to get people on your side. One of the easier ways is to provide food.
    via u/Shurl19
  • Sea-Special-6663 Start looking for a new job. You are probably gonna get laid off. Speaking from experience.
    via u/Sea-Special-6663
  • Jooles95 I'd document EVERYTHING in very detailed logs sent to your personal email if I were you - not just for today, but for the whole ordeal that seems to have been going on for weeks now. In a lot of countries, what you are describing is considered a hostile work environment and is laying the groundwork for constructive dismissal, which leaves your employer open to one hell of a lawsuit.
    via u/Jooles95
  • Unnierianalaqu Enjoy the peace, claim the best desk, start an office band
    via u/Unnierianalaqu
  • Fabulous_Progress... Make a point of telling people it was nice how quiet the office was with everyone gone. Make it seem like you actually enjoyed it. It'll let them believe that you weren't bothered by it and they hopefully won't try that bs again, since it's obvious. they're trying to get you to quit.
    via u/Fabulous_Progress820
  • LotsaCatz OP, do what is assigned to you, with the best of your ability. Keep records; document everything; collect your paycheck. If you run out of assigned work, and you have a phone, there's always Netflix, Hulu, etc. I wouldn't do anything on a company computer that they could monitor.
    via u/LotsaCatz
  • You have a job that some of us might envy. I kinda wish my boss would forget that I'm here, frankly.
    via u/LotsaCatz
  • Brave-Judge4134 Where are you? How long have you worked there? You could claim constructive dismissal. It doesn't sound like your thing TBF, but you have to look after your own mental health mate
    via u/Brave-Judge4134
  • bfume >Keep in mind I've been fighting a narcissist isolation tactic last month or so, and flying monkeys keeping me from info/meetings/tasks as well. wtf does this even mean?
    via u/bfume
  • jodrellbank_pants Didn't no one tell you ?, I'm guessing not.
    via u/jodrellbank_pants
  • kageddeamon Seeing as you have tried HR, and your boss, you COULD try bosses boss, or if you've reached out to them as well, to theirs if applicable. Include documents showing previous attempts to go through proper channels etc etc. And continue to document everything. Just more bs cya to deal with since they gave you so much free time.
    via u/kageddeamon
  • Renbarre Don't you have access to their calendars? Check when they are all on meeting, you'll know that there's a meeting without you. Record it.
    via u/Renbarre

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