Adding This Simple and Free Element to Your Office Can Improve Morale and Productivity

Image by Kranich17 from Pixabay

I once was the perpetrator of a kidnapping and ransom — of a stapler.

The incident happened shortly after I graduated from university and started a new job. I was still new and nervous, and while there was nothing particularly interesting or unique about the office, the people were kind and very welcoming. One day, I borrowed a stapler from a desk, unbeknownst to the stapler owner, and absent-mindedly forgot to replace it. When the owner started asking questions about her stapler whereabouts, I saw an opportunity to exploit the situation.

I took and secretly left pictures of the stapler, bound and gagged, with the daily paper, otherwise known as “proof of life” photos, and in exchange for the safe return of said stapler, I asked for a specific number of paperclips and rubber bands to be released from captivity. The whole office eventually started talking about the incident (it “went viral” before the days of social media) and became a welcome disruption to the daily grind for a few weeks.

I am happy to say that the stapler was returned, and that no staplers were hurt during the course of this prank.

While “stapler-gate” was not the catalyst for turning the drab office into a creative powerhouse, I was happy to see the…