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National Slap Your Coworker Day is Here — Here’s How You Should Celebrate

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Fairygodboss
April 20, 2024 at 12:10AM UTC

National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day — it may sound like a joke, but it's an actual national holiday that really does exist. National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day occurs on October 23rd, every year. It falls on a different day of the week, but it's observed the same nonetheless.

Of course, we're not condoning violence in the workplace, and we certainly don't advise you to really slap your annoying coworker! But here are some funny (and totally acceptable) ways to recognize National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day without actually hurting anyone or getting the boot from your job. Because... well, for obvious reasons.

Let's just keep it PG here, k?

What is the history of National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day?

You're probably wondering about the history of National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day. Who would have possibly come up with this kind of annual holiday for the country, and why? 
Well, the origin of National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day isn't really that surprising. It became popular from The Office, but it's actually been in the media for decades.

In a 2009 episode of the beloved television show, "The Office," Pam slaps Michael Scott for having the audacity to date her mom. Ever since then, people have recognized October 23rd as National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day, and they reference The Office for originating the annual holiday.

But the truth is that coworkers have slapped each other in the media long before The Office did it.

In 1993, in Groundhog Day, Andie MacDowell slapped her coworker, too. In 1987, in Moonstruck, Nicolas Cage's character (Ronny) professed his love for Cher's character (Loretta) and, when he did, she double slapped him shouting, "Snap out of it!"

When is National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day?

Again, National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day occurs on October 23rd every year. Here is when the holiday occurs for the next five years.

2019October 23Wednesday
2020October 23Friday
2021October 23Saturday
2022October 23Sunday
2023October 23Monday

How can you celebrate National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day?

Here are seven simple ways to recognize National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day... without actually slapping your annoying coworker. Because that'd be illegal. And we don't condone illegal activity in the workplace.

1. Watch the specific episode of "The Office" (or any episode, really).

Go back and rewatch (or watch for the first time) the episode in The Office when Pam slaps Michael Scott for dating her mom. In this episode of the show, Jim and Pam come back home after their honeymoon and discover that Michael is actually dating Pam's mother. Of course, this infuriates her, and she slaps him. The episode is aptly titled, "The Lover." It's episode no. 7 in season six of the show, directed by Lee Eisenberg.

2. Share funny, annoying coworker memes.

Share hilarious annoying coworker memes like these ones with your colleagues in the office. You can send them to your annoying coworkers to suggest that they annoy you (in a friendly way!), or you can just send them around to have memes to laugh over together. 

3. Watch other slap-stick humor in the media.

Watch other slap-stick humor in the media, in old school shows like The Three Stooges or modern slap-stick shows like Family Guy. It might even bring you more joy to share clips of these shows with your friends and colleagues to laugh about National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day together.

4. Share funny quotes about annoying coworkers.

Share hilarious quotes about annoying coworkers to celebrate National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day with friends and colleagues. These can be references from shows like The Office, The Three Stooges or Family Guy, for example. You might even add a line to your signature in your email for the day for jokes.

5. High-five your annoying coworker.

Instead of actually slapping your annoying coworker, give them a high-five — like a slap, but kinder. You can even give them a pat on the back. Joke around with them that they're your annoying coworker, and this is your way of recognizing them on National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day.

6. Go to happy hour with your annoying coworkers.

Everyone has annoying coworkers from time to time. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? Invite your coworkers out for a happy hour to get to know each other more and spend some time together outside of the office. Maybe you'll find that they're less annoying in the real world outside of work, anyway. Or maybe they'll reaffirm everything you ever thought to be true about them — either way you'll have answers.

7. Watch YouTube videos of funny slaps.

Watch montage videos of funny slaps on YouTube and other video platforms. You might even find it funny to share these video clips on social media in commemoration of National Slap Your Annoying Coworker Day.

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