# Another way to tell if your coworkers don't like you: They leave you dead at your desk for four days **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 29, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441 "2024-08-29T22:04:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/81 "2024-08-30T19:42:52Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > I’ve worked in a cubicle farm where one employee had a mini refrigerator at her desk Where I worked we had a facilities manager who didn’t allow electrical appliances of any kind at a desk, only in the break room. “Fire hazard” he said. In fact, he was incentivized to reduce electricity consumption in the building. He would snoop when you were away from your desk, and if he found anything, he would confiscate it. Bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/82 "2024-08-30T20:30:28Z")
Exactly my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/83 "2024-08-30T21:13:15Z")
At the last firm I worked for, they had a guy die in the crapper, and nobody noticed for several days (I didn’t work in this [very large] building). After that, they introduced a thing where you had to phone in at the end of the working day, and say you were leaving. Commonly I would forget, and get a call later in the evening. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/84 "2024-08-30T21:47:58Z")
I’m retired, elderly, no relatives except a couple thousands of miles away. Widowed, sold my house, moved to a nice little apartment. My neighbors are 20-somethings who look at me like I’m a half-dead rat crawling down the hall… My best friend of 40 years who pledged we would always be there for each other, talking every day, Sunday dinners together, helping each other, abandoned me within weeks of my move. (Sent me a long e-mail listing my many many faults, ending with I am going to burn in hell because I’m not religious enough - who knew???)… My adult daughter is living the life with her partner, dining out, traveling, you name it: I’m lucky to get a text or 15 minute visit once a month… I have signed up with a place that will make a wellness call every day at a certain time, if I don’t answer for two days in a row, they are to contact my daughter. IF she answers their phone call, she can come over and see if my cat has begun to feast on my decomposing corpse…Yes, my dear sweet summer child, this is what happens when you’re old and alone in the world, and live alone. We don’t all have a big jolly group of friends and relatives like the prescription commercial people seem to have…At least if I still had a place to be every day, work or volunteering, the chances of expiring and being found without being eaten by my cat would be slimmer. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/85 "2024-08-30T21:58:24Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > At least if I still had a place to be every day, work or volunteering, the chances of expiring and being found without being eaten by my cat would be slimmer. Can you find a place to volunteer? (I know not everybody can, and not everybody is able to.) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/86 "2024-08-30T22:11:54Z")
Well, I’ll PM you everyday if you want. All you have to do is ask. Plenty of people would. If you have an onsite building manager ask them. They’d prefer your body not decompose in their unit. There are ways. It would be very hard to say, out loud to your daughter “Hey, I’m getting older, I feel vulnerable about the fact I may die and just lay there rotting before you notice, could you please check in more?” Your crappy friend did you a bad turn. Not everyone will. I know it’s very difficult to ask for help when you need it. I’d help you in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![rickp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickp/32/17521_2.png) [@rickp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rickp)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/87 "2024-08-30T22:34:18Z")
Appears to be real, unless every media source out there has been spoofed. ---
**Author:** ![rickp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickp/32/17521_2.png) [@rickp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rickp)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/88 "2024-08-30T22:39:53Z")
It’s real: [https://www.kron4.com/news/wells-fargo-employee-found-dead-in-office-cubicle-4-days-after-clocking-in/](https://www.kron4.com/news/wells-fargo-employee-found-dead-in-office-cubicle-4-days-after-clocking-in/) ---
**Author:** ![rickp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickp/32/17521_2.png) [@rickp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rickp)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/89 "2024-08-30T22:46:08Z")
I’ve always had good experiences with WF, but your mileage my vary, I’m sure ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/90 "2024-08-30T22:55:12Z")
> [@rickp](#): > > It’s real: Yes, I know. I was making a joke. See **Czarcasm** ’s post immediately above mine. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/91 "2024-08-31T00:05:49Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > The only thing I really worry about is if I should suddenly drop dead, what about my cats? Leave the toilet lids up so they have water for a while. (I’m sorry if this was previously addressed, I haven’t finished reading the thread). ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/92 "2024-08-31T01:22:13Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Would a human body actually stink of decay in 4 days in an air conditioned building? One of the buildings I worked in had almost nobody in on weekends. The a/c was set to a pretty low level. In fact, if you came in early on a Monday morning, you’d notice the stuffiness of the air. > [@Skywatcher](#): > > Decomposing broccoli has one _hell_ of a _stench!_ Have you ever smelled rotten potatoes? I have. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/93 "2024-08-31T01:29:21Z")
I think rotten anything is bad. The worst I’ve encountered is rotten eggs. EGADs. Bad ju ju. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/94 "2024-08-31T01:32:45Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Where I worked we had a facilities manager who didn’t allow electrical appliances of any kind at a desk, only in the break room. “Fire hazard” he said. In fact, he was incentivized to reduce electricity consumption in the building. He would snoop when you were away from your desk, and if he found anything, he would confiscate it. Bastard. TPTB cracked down on anything more powerful than an electric fan shortly after the broccoli incident. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/95 "2024-08-31T01:36:12Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Have you ever smelled rotten potatoes? I have. _shudder_ Leftover mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving, forgotten about in the back of the fridge until around Independence Day. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/96 "2024-08-31T01:37:57Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Ride through Montana on a motorcycle and you’ll experience decomposing flesh often. So much rotting roadkill! The official state tourism slogan of Montana is “The Sky’s The Limit”. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/97 "2024-08-31T02:21:44Z")
OT: I have always refrigerated my potatoes even though everyone says they should be stored at room temperature. At first, it was to keep them from sprouting right away, but in the intervening decades, I have heard too many stories about rotten potatoes to increase the risk of it happening to me. Frozen raw potatoes are gross enough! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/98 "2024-08-31T03:36:33Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > The only thing I really worry about is if I should suddenly drop dead, what about my cats? Would they be discovered in time and rescued? Or would they survive for awhile on my corpse if I die at home? One of the Perfect Master’s minions addressed this very issue a two decades ago: > [@](#): > > **Originally posted by SDStaff Hawk** > I was attending the 1992 American Academy of Forensic Sciences conference in New Orleans and a forensic pathologist related the following story (paraphrased as best as memory will serve): “Sometimes, when an individual living alone dies unexpectedly, several days may pass before anyone takes notice. Some of these individuals may own a dog or a cat, which will go unfed. In my experience, a dog may go for several days before finally resorting to eating the owner’s body. A cat, on the other hand, will only wait a day or two. Just goes to show you which is more loyal. So, the next time you’re falling asleep on the couch with the football game on, take a look at your cat. He’s not watching you because he’s enamored of you; he’s checking to see if your chest is still moving.” Oh, those wacky pathologists. > **[Will cats eat their owners?](https://www.straightdope.com/21343060/will-cats-eat-their-owners)** > > A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/99 "2024-08-31T03:42:07Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Wait, wait…did she not have 1 family member who noticed she wasn’t home? A neighbor, a friend, the dog barking his head off? The car not in the drive? Her church? Not ONE person, outside the place of work? Let’s see… I live alone. My nearest relative is now 700 miles away. I don’t see/talk to my friends every day. My bird would make noise but it’s not like a barking dog and people don’t normally associate “bird in distress” with “human in trouble”, my attendance at services is irregular, I don’t talk to my neighbors every day, sometimes the car stays in my parking spot for days, sometimes is gone for days… Yep, it could be days or longer before anyone would notice I’m gone. Mostly likely work would ask the local police for a welfare check if I didn’t show up to work (I have had 2 co-workers whose deaths were discovered by that means, and another person who was a friend of my spouse’s). But if I died at work and no one noticed… well, yeah, it could be awhile for some of us. Not because no one cares but because we live alone. > [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > The only thing I really worry about is if I should suddenly drop dead, what about my cats? Would they be discovered in time and rescued? Or would they survive for awhile on my corpse if I die at home? > **Spoiler - really, really don't look unless you want to know the answer to the above.** > > Your cats will eat your corpse if no one comes to rescue them after their food bowls are empty. Had a former co-worker die and, indeed, her cats did a Donner Party on her. They start with the soft bits, like the face, and what’s accessible, like hands. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > Would a human body actually stink of decay in 4 days in an air conditioned building? Probably. Wouldn’t be the worst reek ever at that point, but yeah, there would be some stink. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441/100 "2024-08-31T04:13:20Z")
I think the moral is that if you live alone and are above a certain age, daily check-ins are perhaps morbid but kind of important. I do this for elderly family members who aren’t still working (presuming that the workplaces of those who do are more on-the-ball than Wells Fargo). If you have animals it’s even more important—eating your decomposing corpse isn’t a long-term solution. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-leave-you-dead-at-your-desk-for-four-days/1006441.md?page=6)