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Halloween is almost upon us but ask anyone in HR and they’ll tell you that real life can be far scarier than fiction. From employee relations horrors to tribunal woes and policies gone awry – it can be the stuff of real life nightmares. We asked HR professionals to share their worst horror stories.
Read on, if you dare…
Microwave mysteries
Dr Emma Georgiou
Leadership Coach
Dr Emma Georgiou, leadership coach replays one classic horror that had a fishy tinge to it.
“You know that scene where the hero is running away from the killer and they find themselves in a repulsive kitchen, then they realise that there’s some unspecified terrible thing revolving in the microwave. Then it stops and pings,” she says.
“That scene reminds me of the colleague who decided to microwave fish curry in the middle of the day. They stank out the entire office, and we had to explain to a client why every room in the place smelled so bad that day.”
Her verdict? “Most workplace horrors aren’t dramatic, and they usually come down to someone not thinking about everyone else in the room. A bit of consideration goes a long way, and if you’re microwaving anything smelly in the workplace, be prepared to be chased by a horde of angry people waving pitchforks.”
