Nothing says “scary season” like a sudden layoff. At a mission-driven startup, one employee was blindsided when their systems shut down mid-meeting — the result of a $25M meltdown and a badly managed layoff.

Some office moments are awkward, and then there are the ones that deserve their own soundtrack. When a coworker brings in a guitar for a private serenade, the result is a workplace ballad no one asked for — and no one will forget.

When leaders weaponize their titles or HR shrugs off harassment, trust takes the hit. These stories show how the very people meant to protect us can end up causing the most harm.