HR's no-nonsense email to intern goes viral: 'Avoid sleeping in office, don't access terrace'. Viral post sparks debate

What started as a routine HR reminder has now turned into an internet spectacle. An intern working at an office received an unexpected email from HR that’s now doing the rounds on Reddit — and people can’t stop reacting. The message, meant to remind the intern about “office discipline,” included some eyebrow-raising points, from not sleeping in the office to staying away from the terrace.

According to the screenshot shared on Reddit, the HR’s email began formally, addressing the intern and reminding them to follow company policies. It mentioned that the points had already been discussed earlier and warned that continued non-compliance could lead to termination of the internship and loss of the completion letter.

The email laid out clear instructions: avoid sleeping within office premises, don’t enter restricted areas such as the terrace, be present at your desk during working hours, and handle office equipment with care. The HR concluded by asking for full cooperation going forward.

While the message itself was short and professional, many netizens wondered what exactly the intern had done to prompt such a list. The post has since gone viral, sparking a debate about office etiquette, over-the-top HR emails, and the fine line between discipline and micromanagement.

Internet reacts
Online, the reactions to the viral email were a mix of amusement, criticism, and disbelief. One Redditor questioned the intern for missing context, to which the intern casually admitted they had indeed done all the things mentioned in the warning.

Some users didn’t hold back their opinions, saying the intern should probably look for a new company and calling out how such behaviour makes it harder for serious candidates to find internships.

An HR professional chimed in, saying that while the rule about being at the desk throughout working hours seemed a bit much, the rest were completely reasonable. They explained that when interns sleep or go missing during office hours, managers often complain to HR, which can even affect their job security.

Others felt there might be more to the story, suggesting the intern could have been disappearing for long stretches without informing anyone. A few users were baffled by how interns treat workplaces casually, saying professionalism seems to have gone out the window. Some found humour in the situation, while a few bluntly said they hoped the intern got kicked out.