Employee discovers coworker is tracking everyone's workplace activity on a spreadsheet: ‘What time they usually leave, what time they get coffee, who they talk to…’

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Oct 14, 2026 7:15 AM EDT

What would you do if you discovered someone in your office is tracking your every move?

It's not uncommon to feel like someone is always watching you at work, mostly because in many offices, it is likely that someone actually is. Whether it is a boss who takes note of when you leave your desk to go to the bathroom, or an HR person who tracks your clock-in and clock-out times like it's their life's mission to ensure you provide the full 9 hours you signed in your contract. There are eyes everywhere, and you never know which action might get you in trouble.

Many employees get used to being watched. They dutifully do the work, sit at their desk, and time their breaks so that no one has a reason to complain. But time and time again, workplace stories like the ones below prove that employees would be a lot happier at work if they were left to their own devices without having to worry about how long they've been away from their desks.

The funny thing about the case here is that the guy who's tracking everyone's moves doesn't even have a reason to do so. He's not a manager or HR, he's simply a nosy person who decided it's his business to know when his coworkers are going to the bathroom and who they talk to in the break room.

He doesn't even try to hide it. Numerous employees are aware of the spreadsheet he keeps, in which he tracks all of their activities, and he has no problem taking out his notebook whenever someone makes a move he deems important enough for his sheet. Even the manager confronted him about it, but this coworker insists it is a personal project and that technically, he's not breaking any rules…

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  • Coworker working on a laptop.
    via Vladislav Smigelski

    Coworker working on a laptop.

    Model representation. 

  • My coworker has been tracking everyone on a spreadsheet

    I found out that my coworker has apparently been using a spreadsheet to track everyone's activity like what time they usually leave, what
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846
  • time they get coffee, who they usually talk to and what time. There was even this column that was titled "most likely to quit" and the craziest
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846
  • part is that the 2 people he listed in the spreadsheet actually left like a month or so ago!
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846
  • The way I found out about this was because he accidentally sent me a cloud excel link via email, and I was able to keep a copy of the link (its still set to anyone can view, which is odd)
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846
  • The really weird part is that he updates it frequently, like one time I went to the break room and mentioned it to my coworker and she
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846
  • immediately knew what I was talking about because she noticed that hes always writing on his notebook whenever anyone does
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846
  • anything during company time. And then 10-20 minutes after I left the break room, to my surprise; he updated it AGAIN and even included how long I was in the break room for.
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846
  • Employee working.
    via Vladislav Smigelski

    Employee working.

    Models pictured are not representative.

  • We brought it up to the manager and the manager asked him about it, and he said it was a "personal project for organization". He wasnt technically breaking any rule
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846
  • by doing it, so nothing really happened after that. Now everyone is paranoid whenever he opens his laptop or whips out his notebook,
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846
  • and the other day I passed by his desk and asked him "Whatcha doin there buddy" he just closed it and said "nothing you need to know about". Youd expect it to be
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846
  • the most boring place ever, but I never expected myself to be this uncomfortable and curious at the same time. In the office no less.
    via u/Acceptable_Fig_2846

  • A long time ago, I worked with a coworker whose ears would literally perk up every time someone in the office did or said anything. They always asked questions about where people were going and what others were talking about, even when it was none of their business. It used to drive me crazy.

    The thing was, I kept brushing it off because it felt harmless. That was, until someone said something about our toxic boss, and the coworker went straight into her office and told her all about it. All of a sudden, we were back in kindergarten, trying to explain our actions to the teacher while sticking our tongues out at the kids who tattled. 

    Trust is a huge factor in the workplace, without it, people don't last long. Having someone always looking over your shoulder, even if it's just a coworker, is enough to drive anyone away. So, what can this employee do to ensure their actions will never be tracked on a spreadsheet again? I'm sure any idea would be highly appreciated.

  • Pink-Lover I am certain that last anyone checked this is not on his list of job duties. Manager should have shut that nonsense down.
    via Pink-Lover
  • powertotheuser Petty me thinks you should stop by his desk on your way anywhere in the office and say "it's 1215, I am going to the bathroom"
    via powertotheuser
  • Then stop by his desk on the way back and say I'm done in the bathroom now. Make sure the time is right.
    via powertotheuser
  • Choice-Education7650 Start tracking how many working hours are spent on him tracking everyone.
    via Choice-Education7650
  • sarahstanley Is this person's name "Dwight Schrute"?
    via u/sarahstanley
  • Ok_Macaroon3872 He's stalking everyone in the office and documenting it. On company time! What does. your manager even mean that he's not technically breaking any rules? This is creepy Time to report it to HR.
    via u/Ok_Macaroon3872

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schedule tracking boss employee manager track coworkers spreadsheet workplace company coworker work schedule
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