Office worker claims she was sent to HR after finding out her colleague gave her twins matching names – with a subtle difference

When it comes to making a joke at work, many people prefer to give up a witty remark for fear that it might get them in trouble.

While a good sense of humor is considered an important personality trait, no one wants to be the talk of the office if their comments result in them being invited to a dreadful meeting with HR.

Sadly, this was the fate of one person who laughed at a coworker who gave their twins different versions of the same name.

The user said on Reddit that after posting about the situation on the site, he was called to HR. He has since removed the post from the platform.

They wrote about how the incident initially unfolded: “{My colleague]showed up at the office for the first time with her new babies to introduce them to our team.

‘When I asked her what she was going to name the boys (she hadn’t decided until this appearance), she told me she was going to call them “Sean.”

‘When I asked about the other baby, she said ”no, they are both called Sean, one with an ”A” and one with an ”E” so Sean and Seen. This coworker’s last name is also ‘Sean’. When I pointed this out, she said ”yes, like Tom Tom or Jay Jay”’.

While it may seem logical to wonder why someone would give their twin brother or sister the same name (especially if that name is the same as their last name), this did not sit well with the individual concerned.

After describing it as ‘the most idiotic thing ever’ [they have] heard’ the person began receiving messages from other colleagues telling them not to judge.

Although the person was called into a meeting by HR, his actions were not without results. The husband of the colleague who received the comment came across his Reddit post and admitted that it prompted him to change their children’s names.

The original poster continued the Reddit story, adding: “They had a good laugh and eventually agreed to the answers. The naming process wasn’t ideal and maybe they were too tired to think clearly from the overwhelming process of two newborns.

‘Despite the fact that they had already sent the paperwork to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Office (the place where you have to register births in Australia), they called the Brisbane office and it turned out that the paperwork had only been provisionally processed. They used this time to review it again.

“They have pulled the paperwork (for Seen only) and are going to come up with a new name but they are keeping Sean as Sean as they want. I have also been reported to HR for making this Reddit post (not by the parents, they find it hilarious) so well if it isn’t the consequences of my actions.

Although the person was called for a meeting by the HR department, his actions did not prove fruitless as the spouse of the colleague who received the comment came across his Reddit post (image from file)

“They also want everyone to know that ‘calling her an idiot isn’t the worst thing I’ve said to her this year.'”

The person added that the conversation with HR was “disappointing” as he had been asked to “be more considerate of colleagues’ feelings” and “not to put this conversation all over the internet”.

In the comments section, other users agreed that there was no reason to feel guilty about their comments. They said:

“Sean isn’t a stupid name, but Seen is. I don’t care if you were rude. Better for a mother to have a rude awakening before her children are born than after.”

“My girlfriend literally named her kid Beetle. So yeah. People are stupid.”

“I’m an identical twin. Matching names is probably the cruelest thing you can do to someone. Not only is it confusing, it would prevent the twins from developing identities outside of their twinhood.”

“The best advice I was given regarding my twins was, ‘The world will focus on their twinness, your job is to nurture their individuality.'”