Two people with the same name work for the same company

[8letters]

Chris Johnson starts work at XYZ corporation and quickly discovers that there's another Chris Johnson at XYZ. The new Chris is a woman and the old Chris is a man (or vice versa). They get each other's phone calls, each other's meeting invites, each other's emails. It's hugely frustrating. At first, one calls the other when they think there's a mix up. But that's too many phone calls. Then they start meeting regularly to swap information that's been sent to them incorrectly. Then they start chatting about other things when they meet. Eventually they fall in love.

 

[Carnevil9]

Or you could make them college students, and are forever getting their assignments, grades, transcripts, bursar's bills, etc., mixed up.

In either case, it turns out that they are both narcissists, and moan out their own names during sex. Fortunately, in this case, it doesn't really matter.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Wasn't it in Office Space where there is a character named Michael Bolton? They don't work for the same company, but it's still pretty funny.

 

[Carnevil9]

Wasn't it in Office Space where there is a character named Michael Bolton? They don't work for the same company, but it's still pretty funny.

Yeah, I loved that! People would always say, "You mean like the singer?" and he'd get all upset. Then somebody suggested he not go by Michael, but go by Mike or Mickey or something. And his reply was, "Why should I have to change? He's the one who sucks!"

 

[sirhugs]

Do they name all their children Chris?

 

[jaF0]

Would Christine or Christina use 'Chris'?

Notable exceptions, both 70's actresses;

Christopher Norris:

https://iv1.lisimg.com/image/14506938/399full-christopher-norris.jpg

Chris Noel:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/99/50/70/995070bed59b0fe2563e48b607f3a68c.jpg

 

[Carnevil9]

Do they name all their children Chris?

"Are all your pets named Eric?"

 

[sirhugs]

Do they name all their children Chris?

"Are all your pets named Eric?"

I was inspired by the boxer George Foreman, who named all his sons George.

 

[Hypoxia]

The world has room for only one Hypoxia Smurf. However my longtime partner bears a fairly common name and occasionally receives communications meant for another, at home and office. At least they're in different departments.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I don't know if this is relevant or not, but I created a character named Holly Sykes who appears in several stories. Then - I swear I didn't know this - but I found out that David Michell's novel The Bone Clocks has a character also named Holly Sykes.

I thought of the name independently, so I'm not changing it.

 

[MisterTom]

So, two people in the same (large) company have the exact same name. One is male, the other female. The man is a lowly drone while the woman is way higher up on the food chain. One day, our guy gets an e-mail threatening to blackmail him if he doesn't do what he's told. Except the dirty pictures / videos are of his female namesake. There's been a mix-up and the blackmailer's sent the e-mail to the wrong person. Our guy sees an opportunity and uses the pictures for his own blackmail scheme. He becomes a middle man, and gets the woman to do what the actual blackmailer wants, but also adds a few extras for himself...

 

[DanDraper]

Wasn't it in Office Space where there is a character named Michael Bolton? They don't work for the same company, but it's still pretty funny.

Great movie, that was funny how they used that name like that. But in this case for this story idea, it would be funnier because two people are actually working in the same company and they have to get mixed up with each other regularly.

 

[DanDraper]

This is a great story concept and I would love to read it when it comes out. Would be great for the humor section.

Maybe have them receive emails or calls from each others former or current lovers, causing a bigger misunderstanding when it's revealed.

 

[CuttingEdge]

I've lived this as my real name is very common.

In real life, it is not comical, or erotic; it is just a pain in the bottom. I have had disciplinary action started to be taken against me at work when they combined all three of our same names together, and try buying guns...unlike most people, my background check takes three days and is not instant like most people.

 

[Carnevil9]

So, two people in the same (large) company have the exact same name. One is male, the other female. The man is a lowly drone while the woman is way higher up on the food chain. One day, our guy gets an e-mail threatening to blackmail him if he doesn't do what he's told. Except the dirty pictures / videos are of his female namesake. There's been a mix-up and the blackmailer's sent the e-mail to the wrong person. Our guy sees an opportunity and uses the pictures for his own blackmail scheme. He becomes a middle man, and gets the woman to do what the actual blackmailer wants, but also adds a few extras for himself...

That is brilliant!

As an added twist, maybe the guy responds to the blackmailers as if he is the woman target. "Oh yeah? I dare you! Go ahead and release the pictures/videos!" The he gets to swoop in and take her position when she is ruined.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

First... emails for one Chris wouldn't wind up in the other's inbox. Email at companies are usually, your initials and employee number. So even with the same initials the employee number would be different. And they would never use there personal email address for business.

ie. CJ00120 or CJ01129.

Also, phone extensions would be different and unless there was a new person on the switchboard or at reception they would know to asked which one? And the person asking for one of them would know whether they were looking for Mr. or Miss./Mrs.

As for snail mail, yes I guess those might get mixed up often.

But I suppose you might find a way to have the reader suspend their belief of all that sort of thing. Maybe.

 

[jaF0]

First... emails for one Chris wouldn't wind up in the other's inbox. Email at companies are usually, your initials and employee number. So even with the same initials the employee number would be different. And they would never use there personal email address for business.

ie. CJ00120 or CJ01129.

I haven't seen that. Often, I see either first initial, last name or first name, last name separated by a period ( first.last@companyURL ). If there are duplicates in a larger company or government, they may add a numerical identifier or another distinguisher.

Receptionists? Operators? What are those? It's all gone to auto-attendants and 'if you know your party's extension, enter it now, for a company directory, press 9'.

But we're losing track of the issue. Somebody looking for a particular person might not know there is more than one, so they may chose the wrong one from a directory or phone tree.

But let's Litify this a bit and toss the realities of workplace issues. . Suppose one Chris Brown or Pat Jones is a regular employee, but the other provides special services to clients .... sort of the company concubine.