You Want Me to Analyze Toilet Paper? Weirdest, Wackiest Work Requests Ever

Could you take her on if your boss asked you to? A worker surveyed for the “Office of the Future” research project reported being asked to remove nesting geese from the area near the office front door. (Photo: U.S. Department of Energy)

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What would you do if your boss asked you to chase a snake from the women’s restroom or take toilet paper samples from the office restrooms and compare the difference? If asked to compose an email to the staff on proper toilet-flushing techniques, what would you say?

A recent survey of administrative professionals by the staffing agency OfficeTeam and the International Association of Administrative Professionals revealed some head-scratchers, including:

• “Organize a Hula Hoop competition for executive staff.”
• “Cut off the bosses tie that was caught in the paper shredder.”
• “Help land a helicopter on the top of a building.”
• “Call airport security to locate a lost shoe.”
• “Mail a box of dirt.”
• “Write a skit about hand-washing.”
• “Assemble a power washer.”
• “Take care of the office’s pet snails.”
• “Remove nesting geese from the front door area.”
• “Communicate between two executives who were not speaking to each other.”

OfficeTeam Executive Director Robert Hosking said in a news release that the results of a survey of more than 2,200 administrative professionals in the United States and Canada show why they’re so often “tasked with ‘saving the day’ when unusual situations arise.”

Tell Us:

• What’s the weirdest thing you were ever asked to do at work and how did you feel about it?

“They must be resourceful, have strong people skills and remain calm under pressure -- especially when responding to unorthodox requests,” he said

The findings are part of OfficeTeam and IAAP’s Office of the Future research project examining workplace trends affecting administrative professionals.