Navigating workplace etiquette can be challenging—after all, in a shared office, even minor missteps can leave a lasting impression. Most of us are mindful of noisy typing or loud phone calls, but what happens when a harmless fart turns into an HR issue?

It may sound funny, but for one employee, this incident was no laughing matter.

Nathan, an unsuspecting office worker, found himself in hot water after an unfortunate incident during a casual lunchtime walk that involved a sudden release of gas—not exactly the sigh of relief you’d expect.

His colleague Noor shared the story online, sparking a conversation about how even natural bodily functions can cause quite the stir in a professional setting.

It all began on their way to lunch when Nathan, somewhat embarrassed, turned to Noor and admitted, “I farted on you.”

"I didn’t know whether to laugh or feel bad for him since we were just about to eat," Noor recalled.

Amused rather than offended, Noor laughed it off, thinking it was no big deal. Since there wasn’t any lingering odor, the two continued to the café and enjoyed their meal without further issue—until Nathan disappeared after lunch.

“I didn’t think much of it because there wasn’t any bad smell, so we carried on. But after lunch, I noticed Nathan still hadn’t come back to work,” Noor said.

When Nathan finally returned to his desk, looking deflated, Noor suspected something had gone wrong.

To Noor’s surprise, Nathan explained that his lunchtime flatulence had landed him in an HR meeting. Someone had reported his fart as rude and disruptive, leading to a 30-minute discussion with HR about appropriate workplace behavior.

“He was given a 30-minute lecture, but no formal warning letter—just a conversation because a complaint had been made,” Noor added.

The mystery remained: who had reported Nathan when it was only the two of them on the way to lunch? Though no official action was taken, Nathan was left feeling embarrassed and resolved to step outside the next time he needed to relieve himself.

'Can You Imagine a Warning Letter for Farting?'

Noor’s story quickly went viral, prompting humorous reactions online. One user joked, “I wonder what grounds HR warned him on? Can’t be sexual harassment, right? Funny but informative.”

Noor clarified that HR described the incident as a lack of manners and simply advised Nathan to handle future gas breaks outside the office.