The 2023 version of "The Office" might look quite different from the original sitcom, reflecting the realities of remote work and hybrid offices. Content creators on platforms like TikTok have been documenting the humorous and relatable aspects of office life in the current work-from-home era. Bryan Ferreira, a credit and collections specialist, has gained a significant following on TikTok by sharing videos of his daily office experiences. While there have been rumors of a potential "Office" reboot, it is unclear whether the same beloved characters would return. The shift to hybrid work has transformed the American office, with managers attending meetings from their desks via Zoom and a more diverse cast of characters due to flexible schedules and remote work options.
One situation Chamberlin has personally observed: "You're at work, and there's nobody else."
And answering an office landline? Who even shares that number anymore?
Not Gracie Lafevre, an executive assistant who works for the federal government. Her office recently implemented a policy requiring employees to return to the office three days a week. Lafevre, 25, doesn't even know what her office phone number is.
"Similar to Ken's job being at the beach, my job is all about email," she said, referring to the movie "Barbie." "And Google Meets."
Ferreira speculates that a character with Dwight's tendency to be a snitch would also have a strong online presence: Dwight would "definitely install surveillance software on people's computers. You know, just to track keystrokes and how long the computer has been inactive."
The range of office pranks has also changed. Instead of hiding your coworker's staplers, it's more about turning your shyest colleague into a Slack emoji, which then becomes a viral meme. New battle lines have also been drawn over the open-seating floor plan: Who gets the best "hotel desk" or the most comfortable chair? Who always manages to secure a meeting room but, you know, not to judge or anything, doesn't seem to be working?
"The Office" — both the British and American versions — excelled at creating and developing archetypal characters, which is why it's so easy to imagine the show's cast in today's workplace environment. We all know the manager who desperately wants to be included; the coworker who is obsessed with their pets; the overly ambitious coworker three desks away. However, technological and cultural changes mean that a 2023 version of the show would feature a whole new set of character types.
A reboot based in 2023 would not be complete without the much-maligned (and imitated) Gen Z worker, who is the focus of a growing portion of #WorkTok.
Natalie Marshall, formerly employed by a "big four" consulting firm, is now better known for her "Corporate Natalie" persona on social media. Recently, several of her most popular videos show Marshall looking at a screen and giving careful feedback to an imaginary Gen Z employee.
"When you said 'Sup dude' to Brian, our key decision-maker... a small part of him was excited, but maybe a big part of him was thinking, 'I'm never working with this team again,'" Marshall deadpans.
As a millennial and a fan of "The Office," Marshall believes that the generational differences in today's workplace are "even funnier now and look very different from back then."
Others have also created similar characters: the always online Gen Z worker who manages the company's TikTok account, dressed in crop tops and cargo pants, ignoring work in the middle of the day, and filling the work Slack channels with memes and phrases like "slay" and "QUEEN!"
Lafevre, a member of Gen Z, confirmed some of this — she enjoys "interacting with people on my own terms, on my own schedule" and feels uncomfortable with in-person social interactions, such as deciding whom to sit with at lunch. But the mockery goes both ways. What she considers to be simple and mundane office tasks are confusing or tedious to some of her superiors:
"I'm like, 'Honey, you're asking me how to print out a PDF?'"
Then there's the office influencer, whose daily activities are documented on social media (we're looking at you, Ferreira); the mysterious remote employee who seems to be perpetually on vacation ("It's like, can I hear seagulls in the background?" Lafevre said); and the side hustler discreetly juggling multiple jobs.
"I was getting my hair done," recalled HR executive Chamberlin, "and the hairdresser kept turning off the dryer. She was on Bluetooth. She had another job and had to respond periodically to what they were saying."
Of course, "The Office" was much more than its iconic and instantly meme-worthy characters — its magic lay in its relationships: Pam and Jim, Jim and Dwight, Dwight and Michael, Michael and everyone else. From that perspective, what's fund
And answering an office landline? Who even shares that number anymore?
Not Gracie Lafevre, an executive assistant who works for the federal government. Her office recently implemented a policy requiring employees to return to the office three days a week. Lafevre, 25, doesn't even know what her office phone number is.
"Similar to Ken's job being at the beach, my job is all about email," she said, referring to the movie "Barbie." "And Google Meets."
Ferreira speculates that a character with Dwight's tendency to be a snitch would also have a strong online presence: Dwight would "definitely install surveillance software on people's computers. You know, just to track keystrokes and how long the computer has been inactive."
The range of office pranks has also changed. Instead of hiding your coworker's staplers, it's more about turning your shyest colleague into a Slack emoji, which then becomes a viral meme. New battle lines have also been drawn over the open-seating floor plan: Who gets the best "hotel desk" or the most comfortable chair? Who always manages to secure a meeting room but, you know, not to judge or anything, doesn't seem to be working?
"The Office" — both the British and American versions — excelled at creating and developing archetypal characters, which is why it's so easy to imagine the show's cast in today's workplace environment. We all know the manager who desperately wants to be included; the coworker who is obsessed with their pets; the overly ambitious coworker three desks away. However, technological and cultural changes mean that a 2023 version of the show would feature a whole new set of character types.
A reboot based in 2023 would not be complete without the much-maligned (and imitated) Gen Z worker, who is the focus of a growing portion of #WorkTok.
Natalie Marshall, formerly employed by a "big four" consulting firm, is now better known for her "Corporate Natalie" persona on social media. Recently, several of her most popular videos show Marshall looking at a screen and giving careful feedback to an imaginary Gen Z employee.
"When you said 'Sup dude' to Brian, our key decision-maker... a small part of him was excited, but maybe a big part of him was thinking, 'I'm never working with this team again,'" Marshall deadpans.
As a millennial and a fan of "The Office," Marshall believes that the generational differences in today's workplace are "even funnier now and look very different from back then."
Others have also created similar characters: the always online Gen Z worker who manages the company's TikTok account, dressed in crop tops and cargo pants, ignoring work in the middle of the day, and filling the work Slack channels with memes and phrases like "slay" and "QUEEN!"
Lafevre, a member of Gen Z, confirmed some of this — she enjoys "interacting with people on my own terms, on my own schedule" and feels uncomfortable with in-person social interactions, such as deciding whom to sit with at lunch. But the mockery goes both ways. What she considers to be simple and mundane office tasks are confusing or tedious to some of her superiors:
"I'm like, 'Honey, you're asking me how to print out a PDF?'"
Then there's the office influencer, whose daily activities are documented on social media (we're looking at you, Ferreira); the mysterious remote employee who seems to be perpetually on vacation ("It's like, can I hear seagulls in the background?" Lafevre said); and the side hustler discreetly juggling multiple jobs.
"I was getting my hair done," recalled HR executive Chamberlin, "and the hairdresser kept turning off the dryer. She was on Bluetooth. She had another job and had to respond periodically to what they were saying."
Of course, "The Office" was much more than its iconic and instantly meme-worthy characters — its magic lay in its relationships: Pam and Jim, Jim and Dwight, Dwight and Michael, Michael and everyone else. From that perspective, what's fund
