April Fool's Day: Eight ideas for office pranks
April 1 only comes around once a year so why not make it memorable?
These ideas for office shenanigans are not likely to get anyone into too much trouble but keep in mind your company’s policies and workplace guidelines before plotting any practical jokes.
No one is going to be fooled, of course, but the laughs will make it worthwhile.
Your cubicle is your castle
Viking UK’s cardboard castle. Photo: Viking UK, Facebook
It makes sense that a stationery company would design and construct such a great fortress, complete with a working drawbridge. The creative team at Viking UK has even helpfully documented the process for future castle copycats.
Set a stapler in jelly
This needs a bit of planning and time – first, waiting for the chance to “borrow” the stapler – or any other stationery item – from a colleague’s desk, then to prepare the jelly. The two-stage jelly-making process is explained here.
Doughnut disappointment
Surprise! Photo: Supplied
Your chosen target is not likely to be rapt in the idea but covering their cubicle and belongings in aluminium foil is a shining example of a prank that will go down in company history. Remember, aluminium foil can be recycled. Possible variations are Christmas wrapping, newspaper or sticky notes.
Hawaiian shirt scam
Photo: Getty Images/Creatas RF
Tell a colleague or two it’s loud shirt day. Forget to mention it’s an exclusive event – just for them.
Plant the seeds
Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Every office has one – a co-worker whose computer keyboard is manky enough to support life. To prove the point, you’ll need an old keyboard – not the one your colleague uses now, of course – and some potting mixture and seeds. Full instructions are here. Once the seeds have sprouted, wait for a Monday morning and then swap out your co-worker’s keyboard for the newly vegetated version. For a quick April 1 shortcut, plant watercress from the supermarket instead.
Mouse mayhem
How often do you look at the bottom of a mouse anyway?
The IT department might not appreciate the humour but it’s easy to render an optical mouse inoperable by covering its LED light with a sticky note. You didn’t hear it from us.
Passive-aggressive revenge
We’re not supposed to take the 4th floor stapler off the 4th floor. So we took it to Disney World.
Posted by innocent on Friday, 11 September 2015
Sometimes, breaking the rules can be just too tempting. The daring funsters at UK healthy drinks company Innocent liberated a stapler that was not supposed to stray from the fourth floor of their offices. Since August 2015, the stapler has been around the world, with its travels captured in photos posted regularly to the company’s Facebook page.
Oldies but goodies
Some of the world’s biggest brands have launched elaborate April Fool’s Day pranks over the years. If it’s too hard to organise your own, enjoy a few of the best from previous years, such as Audi’s autonomous chairs in the video below, and look out for new ones on April 1, 2016. Otherwise, try the one gag that never fails.
