Member-only story
“Your zipper is down"
How a coworker saved my career
Several years ago, my workplace had a team outing at a local minor-league baseball game.
It was a hectic workday. By mid-afternoon, most of my colleagues had left for the ballpark, but I had a few items to wrap up before I could join them.
Finally, I completed my last task and logged off. Darting to the restroom, I quickly changed from my office attire into a t-shirt and shorts. Driving across town in rush hour traffic, I finally arrived at the stadium parking lot.
By then, my nerves were a bit frayed from the busy day and the rush to get there. Locking my car, I scanned the sea of tail-gaters, looking for my coworkers. Finally spotting them, I made my way toward them.
Ben, one of my co-workers, saw me approaching. He broke away from the group and walked directly toward me. It struck me as odd, because he was coming toward me too quickly.
Ben stopped directly in front of me, creating a human barrier between me and the rest of the group. I looked at him, a bit confused.
Leaning into my ear, Ben quietly said the words that anyone who wears men’s clothing dreads to hear: “Steve, your zipper is down.”
My hand instantly gravitated toward the front of my shorts. I stared back, my eyes…
