Obiter is indebted to Loch Associates, a Tunbridge Wells and London niche employment practice, for these insights into the more eccentric aspects of employing people. Some tales from the firm’s latest newsletter:

A hotel cleaner wanted a day off work, but rather than simply asking his employer for one, he claimed he had been assaulted.

To convince his boss, he took a razor and repeatedly dragged it down his face. He also picked up a boulder and hit himself on the head and body. He even went to the police station to report the ‘assault’. When asked about the incident, he said: ‘Looking back, I should have just phoned work and asked for the day off.’

Meanwhile in New Zealand, one employee was dismissed for sending email messages all in upper-case. Her employer said that co-workers had complained about her ‘shouty’ and confrontational emails. The employee was awarded $11,500 on the premise that the company had no official email style guide.

And, in the US, surveys have revealed the unusual approach of some candidates applying for jobs, including one applicant who included ‘God’ as a referee. Another hopeful listed ‘Master of Time and Universe’ within the experience category and another used an email address that included the word ‘lovesbeer’. Finally, one condition imposed by an applicant was that he be allowed to bring a pet monkey to work.

Obiter would like to hear from readers who have come across examples of their own.