How to Spot and Survive the Office Psycho: A Guide to Workplace Madness

Meet the Office Psycho: Every Workplace Has One

From the satirical series: Office Action Heroes (and Villains)

"Be careful what you say around this guy. He might fly off the handle—or say something so disturbing it makes your skin crawl."

Introduction

If you've ever worked in an office (yes, even remotely), chances are you've encountered this unnerving type:
The person who lurks just outside the spotlight, always present but never helpful.

Introducing the Office Psycho—the creepy corporate character you instinctively avoid.
👀 Everyone, stay alert.

Who Is the Office Psycho?

The Office Psycho is a disturbing archetype, a mashup of dark humor and emotional detachment wrapped in a semi-professional shell.

Common Traits:

A lover of dark, often offensive humor
Compulsive liar, even about trivial things
Expert manipulator: charm one day, undermine the next
Unsettlingly intense eye contact or an oddly vacant stare
Mannerisms can be just slightly off
May have inappropriate or dangerous sexual undertones
Disturbingly unfazed by violent or tragic news like a plane crash or a massive earthquake
Often oddly fixated on death, conspiracy, or control
Finds joy in the discomfort of others
May project intelligence or confidence to gain trust
Catchphrase: “I’ve got a spare ticket for a taxidermy museum if you’re interested?”

And just when you think they’re weird—but manageable—
💀 A dead animal appears on your desk… and he’s laughing.

Is Your Coworker a psychopath? And 5 Ways To Deal With Them?

A new employee begins working for the company you work for and is assigned to work next to you in the office, and something about them doesn’t seem right.

Office BantomimeJames Mason

Why Every Office Has (At Least) One

They slip through recruitment cracks, often charismatic enough to charm an interview panel.
But here’s why they thrive:

Psychos take risks others won’t—sometimes seen as boldness
Charisma masks deeper dysfunction
Some CEOs exhibit traits of high-functioning sociopathy
They know how to manipulate hierarchy and systems
The office is a perfect playground—structured, but full of people to toy with
They seek control, not connection
Red flags are often written off as “quirky” or “high-pressure behavior”

Cartoon-style action figure labelled "Office Psycho" in blue packaging, featuring accessories like a laptop marked "Darknet," handcuffs, and rope.

Surviving the Office Psycho: Your Updated Guide

You don’t have to tolerate workplace weirdos who cross the line. Protect yourself and others with this upgraded survival kit:

✅ Report Them – Always. Even the little things.
✅ Document Everything: Messages, emails, awkward coffee machine convos.
✅ Loop in a Witness – Every villain hates being seen.
✅ Set Limits – No jokes, no “just being friendly,” no exceptions.
✅ Trust Your Gut – It’s smarter than you think.
✅ Keep a Digital Paper Trail – If it’s not recorded, it didn’t happen.
✅ Engage HR or Leadership – They can't help if they don't know.
✅ Support Colleagues – Don’t let others be isolated or targeted.
✅ Limit Personal Info Shared – Psychos collect data like Pokémon cards.
✅ Don’t Confront Directly – These are not people who take feedback well.
✅ Secure Your Workspace – Lock drawers and password-protect everything.
✅ Take Breaks Away from Them to physically and emotionally reset.

Do you work with one?
Or... are you one? 😬

👉 Drop your most jaw-dropping #WorkplaceAbsurdities moments in the comments or tag @OfficeBantomime.

Let’s call them out—one creepy action figure at a time.