A woman found out by accident that one of her coworkers has been keeping a detailed spreadsheet on everyone in the office. It tracks when people leave, when they grab coffee, who they talk to, and even who seems most likely to quit.
Their manager looked into it, but since no rule was technically broken, nothing changed. Now the whole office is uneasy every time he opens his laptop or picks up his notebook.
💸 Take Back Control of Your Finances in 2025 💸
Get Instant Access to our free mini course
5 DAYS TO A BETTER BUDGET
A Spreadsheet Sent by Accident
She discovered it after he mistakenly emailed her a link to an online spreadsheet. She saved the link, and it’s still set so anyone with it can view the file.
At first, she didn’t know what she was looking at. The more she scrolled, the more unsettling it became.
Coffee Breaks and Quitting Times
The spreadsheet listed people’s daily habits. It noted what time coworkers usually left for the day, when they got coffee, and who they talked to and when.
It wasn’t just occasional notes either. It looked like an ongoing log of everyday office life.
A Column for Most Likely to Quit
One column was labeled “most likely to quit.” He’d listed two people under it.
Both of those employees left the company about a month ago. That detail made the spreadsheet feel even stranger.
When employees leave, it can also create pressure for those who stay. Workloads often shift to remaining staff until replacements are found, and hiring and training new people can cost a company thousands of dollars.
A Notebook Always in Hand
She mentioned the spreadsheet to another coworker in the break room. That coworker immediately knew who she meant.
She’d noticed that he’s always writing in a notebook whenever people do anything during the workday. It had seemed odd before, but now it made more sense.
Updated Within Minutes
About 10 to 20 minutes after she left the break room, the spreadsheet updated again. This time, it included how long she’d been in the break room.
That made her feel watched. It was clear the tracking wasn’t just from the past, it was happening in real time.
A Personal Project for Organization
She and her coworkers took the issue to their manager. When the manager asked him about it, he said it was a personal project for organization.
Because he wasn’t breaking any specific company rule, nothing came of it. He was allowed to keep going.
For employees, that can feel uncomfortable. Being tracked by a coworker can raise concerns about privacy, workplace trust, and whether the information could ever be used against them.
An Office on Edge
Now the office feels tense. People get nervous whenever he opens his laptop or starts writing in his notebook.
Recently, she walked by his desk and jokingly asked what he was doing. He closed it and said it was nothing she needed to know about.
Nothing You Need to Know About
She never expected an ordinary office job to feel this uncomfortable. Instead of a dull workplace, she’s found herself wondering what he’s writing down and why.
With management treating it as harmless, the spreadsheet is still there and still being updated. She’s left both uneasy and curious, wondering what he plans to do with everything he’s recording.
Featured on Cents + Purpose:
- His New Young Wife Thought She Was Marrying Into Rental Properties and Substantial Savings But Didn’t Realize His Assets Were Already Locked in a Trust His Daughter Controlled
- Frustrated Son Says His Dad Reported a Fraudulent Check Within Days but the Credit Union Took the Money Back Anyway and Says it May Never Recover the Funds