In an economic climate where everyone is cutting back, it is obvious why office supplies are a premium. With most companies cracking down on supply purchases to prevent lay-offs, some things are just about impossible to find, such as tape. The last time I recall seeing a spare roll of tape, it was hidden in the desk of a laid-off coworker. Sure I went all mercenary and swiped it, but that was only because I needed it. I was lucky to grab it before another eyeing coworker.

Bad as that is though, I uncovered a far more disturbing trend this morning:

Hiding staples in the kitchen.

We have our copier in the kitchen, reams of paper near the freezer is plausible. The kitchen also houses our color printer, mailboxes and the “break room”. Naturally, the toaster, microwave and three-hole punch all share a counter.

Tripping on a chair while opening the fridge or spilling fresh coffee on your printout is nothing new. The mailboxes, however, are a sanctum, an area safe from the mayonnaise and honey-dijon. Squished in the back corner behind the extra cups, Fed Ex supplies and old toner, they are exclusively for mail.

Except today. When I jammed my finger on a hidden staple in my mailbox.

Not put under my mail, on the counter below the mailboxes, or next to the mailboxes where the replacement staples are stored… completely hidden. Behind an empty Fed Ex slip. In my mailbox.

Staplers hurt when you’re not expecting to slam your fingers into one. I decided to get a cup of coffee to soothe my nerves and discovered we were out of my favorite kind. No problem, I think to myself. I’ll just reach up into the cabinet and get an extra box.

That box had another staple in it. Touché, office staple hider. Touché.

The need to guard office supplies may be at an all-time high, but that doesn’t mean you should be planting booby traps for people who accidentally discover your stash. Or putting your supplies where people can find them. Or hiding them in the kitchen.

Do everyone a favor and stick to hiding extras in the back of your desk drawer. Otherwise, you just might find yourself on the business end of an unexpected staple.

And, trust me, that is no place to be.

Related Posts

1. 
   
   Sheep Submission: Tales From the Mailroom
2. 
   
   Sheep Submission: Timeslips + Chicago = Hell
3. 
   
   Sheep Submission: Office Intervention

---