Top 21 April Fool’s Pranks in the Office! by gracej

It’s that time of year again…it’s getting warmer, the birds are coming back, the Groundhog came and went…and tomorrow is that special day when you’d better watch where you sit. It’s April Fools Day!

Here are some classic April Fools Day pranks you can pull on your co-workers. Feel free to share your own pranks with us!

1) Fill Your Boss/Co-workers Office with Packing Peanuts
Imagine your boss or co-worker’s surprise when they realize their office has been filled with shipping peanuts! But unless you just happen to have a whole room worth of this stuff laying around, and the time to clean it up, how can this trick be pulled off?

All you need is packing peanuts (don’t worry, not a room full’s worth!) a roll of tape, scissors, a roll of paper, and a small box. Use the roll of paper, the tape, and the box to create an”envelope” to hold the peanuts against the glass, giving the illusion that the room is filled to the brim with peanuts. Detailed instructions here! This trick also works with confetti from your shredders.

2) Microsoft Word Overload
Open Microsoft Word and hold down [cntrl] + [N] for several seconds. This will open up dozens of Word documents!

3) Mouse Trap
Take some tape and place it over the optical laser of the victim’s mouse. When the victim tries to use the mouse the cursor won’t move.

4) The Phone Switcharoo
For two (or more) people who sit next to each other, switch their telephone cords.

5) Unplugged
Unplug your victims keyboard and/or mouse. Once they figure out the problem, do it again later in the day.

6) Crazy Appointments
When your victim leaves his/her desk, type up some crazy appointments in their calendar, like 12 – 12:30PM “Wax my back,” 3-4:00PM “Pluck my nosehairs.” Throw in a few appointments that are several weeks out for good measure.

7) Switch the Keys
Simply pop out the ‘m’ and ‘n’ key on someone’s keyboard and reverse the two. Any flat tool will work. Just pry it with little pressure and they will easily come right off. Then just sit back and watch the confusion. They’ll go crazy, especially if they are a one-finger peck typer.

8 ) Policy Changes
This trick is easy to pull off if your company loves policies or rules. This prank works best if you are the leader of the company or a department. Try to pick categories that are currently causing problems. Then make some kind of ridiculous rule change.

Example 1
Employees will now receive 29.5 minutes for lunch instead of the regular 30. This cost saving measure will allow the company to save enough money to get new pens for all the staff next year. Please note that this new policy will be monitored with the new video surveillance that has been installed in the lunch room.

Example 2
Due to the number of personal calls being made at work we are now allowing friends to visit you while you are working between 9:57 AM and 10:01 AM.

9) Quirky Electronics
This also works for quirky mechanical problems with the photocopier or any other electrical device. Tell them they have to tap it three times and then rub the control panel otherwise it won’t work or it will start making blank copies. Best if you put a memo on the machine itself.

10) Crazy Email Prank
If the target is logged into their computer and they are away from their desk, type up some emails from the target that make absolutely no sense at all.

11) Refrigerator Handle Switch
Switch the hinges on your office refrigerator to the opposite side, but leave the handle as is.

12) Mysterious Chair
Tie a piece of cord under the victims office chair to hold down the lever that adjusts the chair. (When you sit on the chair it will slide all the way down, but as soon as you stand up the chair will rise all the way up.)

13) Stop the Calls
If the victim has a phone with a hook that presses down when the handset is in the cradle, tape it down. When he or she answers a call it will keep ringing.

14) Tidal Wave
Take about 20 (or more) paper or plastic cups, place them on the victim’s desk and fill them with water. Then take a stapler and staple them all together. You can also put the cups on the floor blocking their door, or just about anywhere.

15) While You Were Out
Leave a phone message on a telephone message pad  for the victim that says that a “Mr. Lyon” called (or Mr. Behr also works), and wants to be called back. Then list the phone number of the local zoo.

16) Dark Side
On most computer monitors, if you turn the brightness control all the way up and the contrast all the way down, the screen will appear to be blank. Do this to your victim and they will drive themselves crazy trying to “fix” their “broken” monitor.

17) Cursed Cursors
This idea is great for playing a prank on your co-worker in an adjoining cubicle. Plug an extra mouse into one of your victim’s spare USB ports and snake the wire back into your cubicle. When the victim is working away, give the spare mouse an occasional small nudge.

18) Spritzer
Take a rubber band and slip it over the lever on the spray handle so that when someone turns the sink on, it will spray him or her in the face.

19) Spell Wrecker
If the victim uses Microsoft Word, go into the victim’s computer and change the auto-correct feature so it misspells common words. Just open Word, choose “AutoCorrect Options” from the Tools menu, and have it replace common words like “the” and “and” with wacky words like “eggplant” or “Uranus.”

20) Cardboard Cake
Find a box about the size of a cake. Then cover it with frosting, making it look like a cake. Put it out in the office kitchen, or wherever people leave free food. Sit back as one of your co-workers tries to cut a slice.

21) Ring the Alarm
Get a small alarm clock and set it to go off at 2:00PM. Hide it somewhere in the office where it won’t easily be found but will be heard. Once it goes off, everyone will go nuts trying to find it.

Happy April Fools! Share Your Favorite Pranks!