A worker’s favorite pens kept disappearing from the desk, always turning up in the hands of the same light-fingered colleague. Rather than start an ugly confrontation, the victim quietly plotted a brilliant and harmless payback that would teach a lasting lesson. The plan involved replacing the regular pens with ones filled with special disappearing ink.
Sure enough, the thief grabbed one just before an important meeting and began taking notes with total confidence. Halfway through, the words slowly vanished, leaving nothing but a blank page. The coworker stared in stunned confusion while everyone else carried on writing. Inside, the mastermind struggled to hide triumphant laughter.
A Redditor cleverly stopped a coworker from stealing pens using disappearing ink.
Dealing with a coworker who “borrows” your supplies without asking can feel like a tiny betrayal in the daily grind of office life.
The Redditor’s frustration is relatable. Those vanishing pens weren’t just stationery, they represented a breach of personal space and respect. On one side, the pen borrower might see it as no big deal, perhaps viewing shared office items as fair game or simply forgetting to return them. Motivations could stem from convenience or even absent-mindedness, but repeated incidents suggest a pattern that erodes trust among colleagues.
Flip the perspective, and the Redditor’s clever swap comes across as a lighthearted lesson rather than outright sabotage. It highlighted the issue without words, turning a frustrating habit into a memorable moment. Both sides likely felt a mix of embarrassment and relief once the behavior stopped. No awkward talks needed.
This micro-drama ties into broader workplace dynamics around boundaries and petty conflicts. Small annoyances like supply snatching can build resentment if ignored, affecting team morale. Interestingly, surveys show this isn’t rare: A Business.com study revealed that 27% of employees admit to taking company supplies like pens, paper clips, and folders for personal use.
Psychology plays a role too. As Yannick Griep, an assistant professor of industrial and organizational psychology explains in a BBC article, petty theft of office items often arises from broken psychological contracts – when employees feel stressed or undervalued due to unfulfilled promises like flexible hours, they may seek small “revenge” by pocketing supplies.
“My advice is to use your brain when being confronted with a broken promise in your workplace and know that you can speak up to get an apology or remedy instead of sticking your fingers in the supply closet,” he suggests. This resonates here: Direct communication might prevent escalation, turning potential grudges into resolved issues.
Neutral solutions keep things professional: politely addressing the borrower, like “Hey, I’ve noticed my pens going missing, mind grabbing from the supply closet?” or keeping favorites hidden while leaving decoys out. Managers can help by stocking communal supplies generously. Ultimately, fostering open chats about respect builds a smoother office vibe.
Here’s what the community had to contribute:
Some people enjoy the clever wordplay and puns in response to the disappearing ink prank.
Some people share strategies or personal anecdotes about dealing with pen theft at work.
Some people find the prank hilarious and brilliant or suggest further twists.
Some people relate humorous personal experiences or preferences regarding pens at work.
In the end, this Redditor’s ink trick turned a nagging nuisance into a satisfying win, proving creativity can outsmart sticky fingers without causing real harm.
Do you think the disappearing pen ploy was a brilliant boundary-setter, or would a straightforward chat have been better? How do you handle coworkers dipping into your desk stash, genius hacks or direct words? Share your office tales and hot takes below!
