“Oh dear God! The results are back from that workplace personality test: The Pliers-Friggs Personality Inventory.” I massaged my forehead, trying to smooth the WTF line between my eyebrows that had deepened dramatically since coming work for The Company company.           

“I just opened the group email. We’re scheduled for an all-afternoon office meeting on Friday, to share and discuss the results.” I feel a thunk and shudder of our shared cubicle wall, presumably Shannon’s head smacking against the metal support.

“You all right there, Shannon?”

“Just trying for a workplace injury, Jonesy.” He groaned. “Didn’t the entire office just take that test two years ago?”

“Yep, and then two years before that. Staff hasn’t changed much since then. Boss woman Prudence, is probably working it for a promotion.” I wish I’d thought of the workplace injury first. I’d been in a mood that day we wasted an extra hour at the Unit meeting to pencil in those tiny circles.

“Aren’t those test results supposed to be an unchanging personality trait?” Shannon and I had graduated together with B.S. degrees in Organizational Psychology, and then joined The Company.

“Yep.” I gritted my teeth. Just a month before this last test, we’d all been required to attend an afternoon-long “feelings session” on the death of our co-worker’s spouse. I had come out of it feeling violated; the coworker and I had already talked personally. She, like me, was a private person.

 So when the company HR psychologist had come with her Number 2 Pencils and paper, I’d had enough intrusion to last a lifetime. Out of sheer boredom and misaligned rebellion, I’d filled out the questionnaire so that nothing would match. I’d hoped to obfuscate through confusion.

Instead, they’d called a meeting in the plush office of Prudence’s boss. I thought they were going to call me out as a psychopath. Instead, they’re fast-tracking me to upper management.

© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2025)

Just Jot January Day 28 Prompt: CONFUSION, by Dan. Be sure to visit their blog to read or just say hi!  See what other folks have done with the prompt, or add your own!    https://lindaghill.com/2025/01/28/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-28th-2025/