Overheard at work

These are all odd or funny things that people have overheard at work. Thanks to George Gensler and her strange office for the idea!

• Customer on the phone to a map company: "I'd like Map XYZ please."
• Map man: "It's an untearable map."
• Customer: "Well if it's a terrible map, I don't want it."
• Anonymous

• "But it would be good for, like, serial killers and stuff."
• Lobby, New York office block

• "I'll catch up with you later - the Serious Fraud Squad is raiding our office at the moment."
• Via email

• "Can whoever left their car keys in the fridge please come and collect them from reception?"
• Intercom announcement, advertising agency

• "What time does the 24-hour Tesco's close?"
• On a late night in the office

• "The client wants it done by tomorrow afternoon"
• "The client can go **** himself."
• [The client, who I'd never met before, was standing next to my colleague when I said this.]
• Anonymous

• "I'll put 'arse' on the other page then, shall I?"
• Our own office (referring to an image in this section!)

• "My friend, why people have problem with BNP? I no understand."
• Staffroom, university department, (spoken by an Iraqi employee)

• "This would be a great bookshop if it weren't for the customers."
• Bookshop, Lincoln

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