Senior engineer: Mate, how are you going along with the quotation for that corrosion protection for the anchors?
Junior engineer: Yeah, I've only got one till now. This one is from manhole greasing.
Female HR manager, sitting close by: Sorry to interrupt you guys, but this manhole grease thing just sounds dodgy…
Sydney
Australia
Overheard by: Sanjeev
HR to employee: Did you eat my muffin yet?
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Sole HR representative: My theory is that lemmings sing as they run towards the cliff to throw themselves off.
Ottawa
Canadia
Overheard by: Just the summer hire
HR manager, as phone rings during conversation: I don't know where my daughter is. That's a bit of a problem since she's only eight… I should take this call.
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Overheard by: #1mom
Female HR manager: He came way too early this morning. He was coming fast. And then he didn't have time to do what he was supposed to do for me.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
HR receptionist: Ginny called and was looking for you earlier.
HR director: Oh shit! (pause) Oh shit!
HR receptionist: What!? What's wrong?
HR director: My uncle Jimmy called?! I haven't talked to him in years!
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
HR director: You guys aren't what I expected. I expected something less professional. I didn't expect suits.
Sales guy: Well, we expected you to be fat and ugly.
Hospital
Kansas City, Kansas
Manager to HR rep entering conference with bigwigs: What are you doing here?
HR rep: You just told me to walk down here with you.
Manager: Oh, well. (continues talking, HR rep walks away)
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Overheard by:
HR manager: Why didn't you hire Ashley*?
General manager: Well, Mary* in shipping said that the girl was too good looking. She'd be a distraction to the other employees.
HR manager: Oh, that's nonsense.
General manager: Well, I think that was mainly my fault. When she walked past, I snapped my neck checking her out.
Baltimore, Maryland
Overheard by: The good-looking girl in the office
Creative director: You're making that up!
HR lady: I am not!
Creative director: Why would you want to be friends with that guy? He wanted to name a flower after you!
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
