Few Workplaces See Pranks for April Fools

The far majority of executives participating in an Accountemps poll (88%) said April Fool’s jokes were uncommon at their company, while a mere 9% said such shenanigans were common workplace fare for them.

What kind of mischief have people stooped to in the name of an April 1 prank? Respondents told Accountemps that:

• “We put tape underneath a colleague’s mouse so he couldn’t move it.”
• “A couple of employees cleaned out everything from another person’s office.”
• “A few people used plastic wrap to cover the opening around an employee’s cubicle and then filled the cubicle with small foam balls.”
• “Someone changed the keys on my keyboard.”
• “Someone frosted a cookie with children’s toothpaste and offered it to a coworker.”
• “One worker’s office was filled with sawdust.”
• “We filled a colleague’s office with balloons.”
• “One employee in my office placed a plastic leg under a coworker’s desks for a scare.”
• “We turned everything backward in one person’s office – the computer, desk and pictures.”
• “During a presentation, an employee had a cartoon pop up on his screen that he didn’t put there.”
• “One person’s colleagues loaded his office with sand and beach toys.”

The national poll included responses from 150 senior executives – including those from human resources, finance and marketing departments – with the nation’s 1,000 largest companies. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Accountemps.