From duct-taping power tools together to stealing Christmas decorations, HR teams have seen it all this year. In a Halloween round-up worthy of a horror film, consultancy firm Peninsula has shared a selection of genuine employee incidents that left employers spooked across the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Nicole Whittaker, associate director of HR consulting at Peninsula, said even the bravest HR professionals can feel their blood run cold when facing such cases.
The fright files
Among the real-life tales was a worker who decided to duct-tape two power tools together to “save time”. Sparks flew, the breaker blew and the resulting video went viral, causing reputational damage for the company.
Then there was the employee who brought a live squirrel to work, claiming it was their emotional support animal. Another worker was reported to have filed a harassment complaint because they were being “targeted with dirty dishes” after repeatedly being asked to wash mugs in the break room.
One case involved a new employee accused of performing witchcraft by a colleague who insisted they could not return to work until the “spells” stopped. In another, a karaoke night ended with legal threats after two staff members fought over the microphone.
Other stories included a worker who falsely claimed to be attending their mother’s funeral before being seen shopping with her days later, and a security guard who told their employer that CCTV cameras were moving because the building was haunted – before admitting to adjusting them during unauthorised breaks.
When horror turns to headache
While these accounts might sound farcical, Whittaker said each had serious implications for the organisations involved.
“Barely a day goes by when we don’t hear a story of workplace behaviour that’s enough to make any employer’s blood run cold,” she said. “Luckily those of us who work in HR don’t scare so easily.”
“While some of these stories may seem humorous, they most definitely are not. And all of them have one thing in common – the potential for serious reputational and financial implications for the employer if they don’t follow the correct processes when dealing with them.”
She added that the safest protection against such chilling episodes was a robust set of workplace policies. “It’s crucial to set out your expectations for workplace behaviour in clear policies and let employees know that there are consequences for failing to follow them,” she said.
“You may think that some behaviours would obviously be unacceptable in a workplace environment, but any HR expert will tell you not to assume anything. Believe me, we’ve heard it all.”
Avoiding the nightmare
Whittaker warned that when cases involve misconduct, employers must gather all the facts before taking disciplinary action. “No employer wants to spend their time carrying out investigations or doing extra paperwork, but in cases of gross misconduct, it’s important to solve the clues and have all the facts before proceeding with any disciplinary action,” she said.
“Not only will this help you avoid making false accusations, but it could also keep you out of tribunal – a terrifying prospect for any employer.”
Lessons from the dark side
Behind the Halloween humour lies a reminder that even the strangest incidents can point to wider issues in workplace culture, from unclear behaviour standards to poor communication and training. Experts say that misconduct, whether comic or catastrophic, often thrives in environments where policies are outdated or inconsistently enforced.
Regular refresher training, confidential reporting channels and visible support from senior leadership can all help prevent minor misbehaviour from turning into a full-blown HR horror story. A light-hearted seasonal tale may raise a smile, but the real message is that prevention, transparency and early intervention are what keep the workplace from descending into chaos – even when the ghosts and ghouls come out to play.
