Apparently, We’re Hiring Toddlers Now

It’s close to Christmas. I’m back in the office and a delivery is waiting at my desk, which is odd as I never get anything sent to me.

I open it and it’s a card and box of chocolates. The card reads, “Thank you for all your help this year. You mentioned that your young family loves chocolate. I hope they enjoy these. [Customer].”

It’s been a tough year, and to be fair, a lot of hard work and issues with [Customer], so this is a really nice touch. I also appear to be the only person with a package.

Coworker #1: “Ooh, who are they from?”

Me: “[Customer]. It’s so sweet! I think I must have mentioned my kids love these chocolate months ago.”

Coworker #1: “What brand are they? I’ve not seen them before?”

Me: “It’s German chocolate. I don’t think they have them in the UK. I brought some back when I visited [Customer] last; they didn’t last the day.”

Coworker #1: “Well, open them up, then! Everyone wants to try them.”

No one else apart from [Coworker #1] seems to care; she hasn’t taken her eyes off them since she heard the word “chocolate”.

Me: “As I said, they are for my kids.”

Coworker #1: “Oh, they won’t know if you don’t tell them.”

Me: “That’s… that’s not the point.”

Coworker #1: *Getting loud* “Oh, don’t be stupid. Open them up!”

Coworker #2: “What’s up?”

Coworker #1: “[My Name] won’t share his chocolates!”

Coworker #2: “So? That’s his choice.”

Coworker #1: “But, but… It was a work gift; he should be made to share them.”

Me: “It was a personal gift from a customer.”

Coworker #2: “I don’t see the problem here.”

Coworker #1: *Even louder* “But it’s not right!”

Manager: “Is there a problem?”

Coworker #1: “[My Name] got a work gift and is refusing to share them.”

Manager: “All work gifts go into the raffle. It’s only fair.”

Coworker #2: “I don’t think this was a work gift.”

Coworker #1: “It was received at work, so it’s a work gift.”

Me: “Here’s the card.”

Manager: “Oh, okay. No, this seems fine.” 

Coworker #1: *Almost screaming* “No! I want chocolate!”

Manager: “[Coworker #1], control yourself. This was clearly a personal gift.”

Coworker #1: “I will not ‘control myself’! You are all breaking the rules. And I won’t have it!”

Manager: “Why don’t we have a little chat in my office?”

[Coworker #1] keeps shouting; the whole office is now watching her.

Coworker #1: “No, I won’t!”

Manager: “I am going to have to insist.”

She sat in her chair, arms folded like a child throwing a tantrum. The manager disappeared to be replaced by one of the human resources team quietly asking her to step into the office.

[Coworker #1] did so. An hour later, she came back, muttered an apology, and refused to speak to anyone for the rest of the day!