Sales employee wins bag in prize draw, gets told to return it because coworker wants it: 'She is no longer going to participate in these contests'

Workplace fun is a thin disguise for office politics.

On the surface of things, it can almost seem wholesome that management wants to arrange some kind of team-building game or an award to recognize their hardworking employees. When so much of the average job is generally stressful and boring, it is nice to feel like those in charge are doing something to lighten the mood now and then. Many workers believe that they deserve it.

That being said, just because something is not monotonous doesn't mean that it is free of the hierarchy and petty gripes that define many workplaces. In fact, these supposedly fun detours often end up being a way for the worst parts of the job to show themselves in irritating and insidious ways. It is not fair to those employees who deserve to be able to let loose and enjoy themselves for a moment, but it happens nonetheless.

As a result, it is sometimes best to approach any kind of mandated workplace fun with a dose of skepticism. It is nice if it all works out, but when it doesn't, things can get even uglier than the average office argument. It can make certain coworkers surprisingly ruthless.

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One woman was left disappointed when she should have felt happy after a prize-winning game she took part in didn't pan out as planned. She was on the sales team at an insurance company, and if they met certain policy writing goals, they were allowed to play a beer pong-style game to win a selection of prizes.
The woman played the game well and, as a result, was able to take home a Stanley cup bag. However, this didn't last long, as she was soon informed via group text that she needed to bring the bag back to work as she wasn't eligible for it.
It turned out that one of her colleagues, who had not been working that day, wanted the bag instead. She was left feeling demoralized, according to one of her other coworkers.
This has got to be one of the most petty things I have ever witnessed…

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$bobarrgh I'd have written my name on the bag with a Sharpie and then brought it back. Even better, mark it with "Stolen from \[co-worker's name\]".$

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