Ever find yourself in the office kitchen, just trying to heat up your lunch, when suddenly you’re knee-deep in Susan’s marital problems? One minute, you’re popping the lid off your Tupperware, the next, you’re nodding along to a full breakdown of how “he never listens anymore.” Congratulations! You’ve just been promoted to Unpaid Therapist—no salary, no benefits, just endless emotional baggage and a possible ulcer.
Let’s be real: every workplace has that one person who turns casual small talk into a deep therapy session. (Hint: If you don’t know who it is, it’s probably you.) Chad from Accounting still isn’t over his last breakup (from two years ago). Lisa from HR wants to “pick your brain” about her dog’s separation anxiety. And Steve? Well, Steve doesn’t even work here, but somehow, he still finds his way to your desk to talk about his stock market woes.
Meanwhile, your coffee is cold, your actual workload is piling up, and no one has even offered you a thank-you donut for your services.
Well, it’s time to make your position official. Grab the “Unpaid Therapist” T-shirt and start setting boundaries—or start charging by the hour. Either way, you deserve some recognition for all the emotional labor you never signed up for.