The Office Mix-Up

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There were two employees called Alex Moreno at Delta Logistics. One worked in accounting, and the other worked in marketing, and they had never met. On the last Monday of the month, the company's computer system made a mistake, and two very different emails went to the wrong Alex.

The first one was sent to Alex from accounting at nine o'clock. "Congratulations, Alex!" it said. "We are pleased to tell you that you have been promoted to Regional Director, with a big raise and an office with a view." Alex read it three times, then stood up on his chair and shouted "Yes!" The whole floor turned around.

The second email arrived in marketing at five past nine. "Dear Alex, unfortunately, your position will be eliminated on Friday. Please return your laptop to reception." Alex from marketing went white. He sat in silence for ten minutes. Then he began to clean out his desk and to say goodbye to his colleagues, who did not understand anything.

At eleven, both Alexes went to the elevator at the same time, with very different faces. One was carrying balloons, and the other was carrying a box of plants and photos. "Bad day?" asked the first. "The worst," said the second. "They fired me." "Really? They promoted me," said the first, feeling suddenly embarrassed. They compared their emails, and then they understood.

"We need to tell Human Resources," said the second one. They went to the fifth floor together. Human Resources told them that the promotion was for a third Alex Moreno, from the warehouse, who had received nothing. While they waited, a man arrived with a tired face, carrying a box of tools. "Excuse me," he said. "Is this where I'm supposed to pick up my promotion? I think I got a letter saying someone was going to be fired on Friday."

Everybody looked at each other. "That's my email!" said the third Alex, and the other two burst out laughing. In the end, nobody lost a job, and nobody got a promotion. Human Resources sent one last message to the whole company: "From now on, all employees will use their middle initials. Especially the Alex Morenos."