It’s quite likely that, at some point in time, you were asked to keep a secret at work. You may have even signed a non-disclosure agreement or NDA. They are very common documents that employees have to sign… as well as people working with sensitive data and clients.
However, some of the sensitive information you’re forced to keep is beyond weird. Members of the AskReddit online community finally revealed the industry secrets they had to stay silent about. We’ve collected their wildest stories to share with you, including those from people whose NDAs have finally expired.
#1
I used to train Facebooks moderation AI back in 2016ish era. all of the conspiracy theories about fb purposely targeting content is false and was human error. I saw the rise of the Qanon far right in real time and one of the biggest challenges was containing all of the bots that would spread that information.
Working there made me realize that MAGA was never a real political party (fb had ways to decipher who was a real person and who wasn’t) and that a much more powerful group(s) had almost full control over digital content through bot farms. We would flag 1 account and 3 more would appear with slightly different language/content to avoid chain banning.
That role made me realize how powerful a clever person using AI, information, money, and bot farms are. Someone controlling outrage, as in creating it for both sides, can do a lot of things online or offline.
I firmly believe that outrage content should not be monetized after that experience.
Working there made me realize that MAGA was never a real political party (fb had ways to decipher who was a real person and who wasn’t) and that a much more powerful group(s) had almost full control over digital content through bot farms. We would flag 1 account and 3 more would appear with slightly different language/content to avoid chain banning.
That role made me realize how powerful a clever person using AI, information, money, and bot farms are. Someone controlling outrage, as in creating it for both sides, can do a lot of things online or offline.
I firmly believe that outrage content should not be monetized after that experience.
36points
#2
I'm a former copy-editor, I caught a case of egregious plagiarism by a very well respected author. Clever enough to avoid the software that can be used, unfortunately for him I noticed the syntax shift and went full Poirot investigation mode. I got paid a big bonus lump sum of money and my wage was immediately increased by 50 percent forever for averting what could have been catastrophic for the reputation of the Publishing House and financially damaging if the other author had ever ever sued them. I noticed it the same week it was due to be sent to print. Plagiarism is far more common than people realise and it can, in the worst case scenario, bankrupt a Publishing House. The author in question who stole another's work was "blacklisted" for life when I dug out the original source and stopped the book going to print (ever) for this very reason.
30points
#3
Zinus memory foam mattresses are made with fiberglass fibers. If you open a zipper on the mattress or take off the removable outer cover then your home will be exposed to the fibers and it may ruin a lot of your belongings if not caught fast enough.
I don’t have an NDA but soon their class action law suit will be over and after settling then I will not be allowed to publicly tarnish their reputation. Until then though I can say what I want.
Note: Company's representative reached out to Bored Panda to assure they no longer use fiberglass. Here's an explanation from their official website: "Today, newly manufactured Zinus mattresses use a carbon-rayon sleeve to protect our customers in the unlikely event of a fire. Previously, Zinus used fiberglass as a fire safety material. Fiberglass has been used regularly by mattress manufacturers since 2007."
I don’t have an NDA but soon their class action law suit will be over and after settling then I will not be allowed to publicly tarnish their reputation. Until then though I can say what I want.
Note: Company's representative reached out to Bored Panda to assure they no longer use fiberglass. Here's an explanation from their official website: "Today, newly manufactured Zinus mattresses use a carbon-rayon sleeve to protect our customers in the unlikely event of a fire. Previously, Zinus used fiberglass as a fire safety material. Fiberglass has been used regularly by mattress manufacturers since 2007."
27points
In a nutshell, an NDA is a legally-binding contract that establishes a confidential relationship. It essentially stops you from sharing sensitive information about your company or client. This way, you’re forced to keep your promise not to leak anything you agreed to keep secret. NDAs protect the client’s or the company’s interests and aim to avoid embarrassing them.
Typically, non-disclosure agreements will outline what you can and cannot do, as well as what happens if you break the rules of the agreement. These documents also tend to have an expiration date.
However, NDAs aren’t perfect. They can create an atmosphere of distrust at work. And if the terms are too constraining, employers might push away talented industry professionals who would otherwise love to work for them. On top of that, some employees might find their future job prospects limited if their NDAs prohibit them from seeking similar work for a particular duration.
#4
Elsevier, the company that makes a lot of the compulsory textbooks for University, commissioned scientists to develop a new book binding glue designed to fail after 3 years, as they hated that there was a second hand market.
23points
#5
A school in London had to pay me £35,000 compensation after telling me I was taking to long to recover from cancer treatment and that I should leave my position.
They initially offered mye £5,000.
Even my solicitor said I should probably accept when we got to an offer of £15,000. But I was angry and very stubborn.
They initially offered mye £5,000.
Even my solicitor said I should probably accept when we got to an offer of £15,000. But I was angry and very stubborn.
22points
#6
A friend of mine was paralyzed while riding a Trek. He and his family signed the NDA because they needed the money to pay for healthcare. The quick release in the front tire was faulty and the front tire came off while he was going down a hill, he was thrown, and instantly paralyzed. The lawyer found out that Trek had paid off multiple people who were paralyzed by the same quick release issue and was able to get a very large settlement. I eventually found out about the NDA pushed by Trek and haven’t bought one since. I always share this story when I hear that someone is looking to buy a mountain bike.
19points
One of the best things that you can do before signing a non-disclosure agreement (or any important document) is to thoroughly read it. If any parts seem unclear or vague, ask your client or employer to elaborate. You can always take a pause and get a second opinion about the contract. Get someone with a legal background to weigh in. You shouldn’t feel rushed to sign anything.
That being said, NDAs are a fairly common practice. Refusing to sign any non-disclosure agreements out of principle would likely mean that you won’t get a good job with prospects at a major company. Again, if you have any concerns about the document, voice them to your employer. Have an honest discussion about the need for an NDA.
#7
No NDA but something i learned that I probably shouldn't have. I was working in an aircraft Hangar that would strip and respray full commercial planes. One day I noticed a fleet of Boeing employees setting up on the Hangar floor and when i asked why they said that one of the new planes had a hard landing and when they stripped it down they noticed cracks running the whole way along the hull.
I said presumably it gets dismantled and investigated for weaknesses ......they looked at me and were like Nah shes headed to Africa now. Basically its too much money to scrap/write off so they send it to a country where if something goes wrong its not as big a news story.
Every industry cuts corners and hides things, even the ones you pray shouldn't.
I said presumably it gets dismantled and investigated for weaknesses ......they looked at me and were like Nah shes headed to Africa now. Basically its too much money to scrap/write off so they send it to a country where if something goes wrong its not as big a news story.
Every industry cuts corners and hides things, even the ones you pray shouldn't.
Report
19points
#8
We knew at least a month in advance that Lehman bros was going under and that the banks were going to cause the housing crisis of 2008. Couldn’t say a word thanks to nda’s. Funny part is even knowing, I still couldn’t save my own house.
19points
#9
Why were the original Nokia mobile phones (think 3110) so durable? Testing.
During some excursion to one of the production sites I saw the pneumatic testing rig that would lift the phone's mechanical prototype *psshht* to some height, *bonk* let it free fall to the ground, and repeat the cycle some 10000 times overnight.
The early prototypes of course disintegrated to smithereens, but for later prototypes Nokia had to replace the floor with a more durable one.
During some excursion to one of the production sites I saw the pneumatic testing rig that would lift the phone's mechanical prototype *psshht* to some height, *bonk* let it free fall to the ground, and repeat the cycle some 10000 times overnight.
The early prototypes of course disintegrated to smithereens, but for later prototypes Nokia had to replace the floor with a more durable one.
Report
19points
Have you ever had to keep a work secret or sign a non-disclosure agreement, dear Pandas? What is the worst thing about your industry you know that others might be oblivious about?
If your NDAs have expired, what sorts of sensitive information were you forced to avoid talking about? Have you ever refused to sign an NDA because of how restrictive its terms were? Have you ever broken an NDA before its expiration date, and if so, why? If you feel like sharing your experiences, you can do so in the comments.
#10
I worked at Apple on the Apple Maps team. One of our contractors accidentally deleted all of Australia once.
18points
#11
MPLC stands for motion picture licensing company. They are the video version of ASCAP. They call companies claiming they need to pay for an extremely expensive yearly license in order to show live tv in bar, hotels or anywhere that’s a public place inside your business.
It’s all a scam. A giant lie. You don’t need to buy it. It’s not a legal requirement in the USA.
It’s all a scam. A giant lie. You don’t need to buy it. It’s not a legal requirement in the USA.
18points
#12
I was a marine cabinet maker and worked on superyachts. I can tell you all the hidden compartments I built into things to store weapons, money, valuables, etc. Mainly used when transiting or near places with pirates.
My favorite was a pop out in the leg of a table.
My favorite was a pop out in the leg of a table.
17points
#13
There are some natural gas pipes in the US that are not documented in official records. No conspiracy, just bad record keeping from many years ago.
There are also many natural gas pipes that should be replaced immediately for safety reasons.
The general state of the pipeline infrastructure is deteriorating and virtually no one cares.
I worry about an increase in natural gas explosions in residential areas in the coming years.
There are also many natural gas pipes that should be replaced immediately for safety reasons.
The general state of the pipeline infrastructure is deteriorating and virtually no one cares.
I worry about an increase in natural gas explosions in residential areas in the coming years.
17points
#14
USA ER doc here - no NDA but still something people don’t talk about. Hospital staff absolutely discriminate based on race, gender, sexuality or any other metric, and there is literature to show this. If you’re overweight, female, Black or just generally not-white, you are less likely to get pain medication, antibiotics, procedures or other treatments you need based on any number of excuses. Of course, being a jerk is the biggest deciding factor in all of those circumstances, but the other stuff matters too.
But here’s the big thing: the hospital will bend over backwards to support any staff member or administrator who shows up as a patient. It goes without saying that someone who works at that hospital would receive preferential treatment (as with any industry), but I remember as a resident treating a guy who was having a heart attack and the cath lab staff literally beat me to the room. That NEVER happens. Sure, he was having a heart attack but I’ve literally seen patients wait HOURS before going up, and that’s if you can convince the cardiologist of what’s happening (spoiler: if you’re a female doctor you’re less likely to do that because many docs are sexist AF). Shortly after I saw men in suits around his room and learned this was the father of one of the hospital administrators.
If you’re female or a minority, never go to the ED alone if you can avoid it. Have a family member or friend there to help advocate for you and clarify the situation. Remember that most of us are genuinely trying to help, but there are some who might try to write off your concerns for a faster resolution. Never be afraid to ask the doctor to slow down and listen to your concerns.
But here’s the big thing: the hospital will bend over backwards to support any staff member or administrator who shows up as a patient. It goes without saying that someone who works at that hospital would receive preferential treatment (as with any industry), but I remember as a resident treating a guy who was having a heart attack and the cath lab staff literally beat me to the room. That NEVER happens. Sure, he was having a heart attack but I’ve literally seen patients wait HOURS before going up, and that’s if you can convince the cardiologist of what’s happening (spoiler: if you’re a female doctor you’re less likely to do that because many docs are sexist AF). Shortly after I saw men in suits around his room and learned this was the father of one of the hospital administrators.
If you’re female or a minority, never go to the ED alone if you can avoid it. Have a family member or friend there to help advocate for you and clarify the situation. Remember that most of us are genuinely trying to help, but there are some who might try to write off your concerns for a faster resolution. Never be afraid to ask the doctor to slow down and listen to your concerns.
Report
17points
#15
Before Redbox swapped to chip and pin credit card readers, circa 2021, the old swipe style readers stored your credit card info in a text file. I mean plain text, on the computer in the kiosk, that anyone could have accessed.
When they upgraded, there was zero plan to go into each computer and delete that file. There are 30k+ Redbox kiosks floating around with a file of credit card numbers and names to go with them.
When they upgraded, there was zero plan to go into each computer and delete that file. There are 30k+ Redbox kiosks floating around with a file of credit card numbers and names to go with them.
15points
#16
Religions have been taken over by nefarious actors who don't believe in God.
15points
#17
Sometimes, when you contact support agents for mobile games, we can 100% fix the issue and restore things you have lost due to game bugs, but you didn't spend enough money, so we were told not to help you. "Policy" changes depending on your spending tier.
14points
#18
The winners of the ad campaign our agency created were not actually randomly selected. We just looked directly at the database and selected the silliest names we could find.
14points
#19
I helped cover up a radioactive leak and lied about it.
In 2012, I was a young physicist at Gustave Roussy Hospital working in internal radiotherapy. We treated patients by injecting them with radioactive substances and then imaging them with PET or SPECT. Because the patients were radioactive afterward, they had to remain in their rooms.
The radioactivity left their bodies mainly through urine, so their urine was also radioactive and was stored in containers on the lower floors till radioactivity goes below a threshold, and then emptied.
The problem was that on that day… the containers were full.
The decision was made waaaay above me that they were to be emptied while still fairly radioactive (and diluted with 3,000 litres of water) into the main Parisian wastewater stream. This was apparently done within procedure and happened regularly. The ASN and the water company were informed, and everything was officially cleared.
The issue was that a journalist got wind of it. To avoid public panic, the official explanation given was that it had been an accident caused by a broken valve.
The ministry of defence, whom knew about it, still decided to replace the containers to new one.
You can read about it here
In 2012, I was a young physicist at Gustave Roussy Hospital working in internal radiotherapy. We treated patients by injecting them with radioactive substances and then imaging them with PET or SPECT. Because the patients were radioactive afterward, they had to remain in their rooms.
The radioactivity left their bodies mainly through urine, so their urine was also radioactive and was stored in containers on the lower floors till radioactivity goes below a threshold, and then emptied.
The problem was that on that day… the containers were full.
The decision was made waaaay above me that they were to be emptied while still fairly radioactive (and diluted with 3,000 litres of water) into the main Parisian wastewater stream. This was apparently done within procedure and happened regularly. The ASN and the water company were informed, and everything was officially cleared.
The issue was that a journalist got wind of it. To avoid public panic, the official explanation given was that it had been an accident caused by a broken valve.
The ministry of defence, whom knew about it, still decided to replace the containers to new one.
You can read about it here
14points
#20
I worked for a prominent children’s cancer charity. I documented and brought incontrovertible proof of over a decade’s worth of misappropriating funds and resources, strangely stealing both from the billionaires we try to woo/placate and especially the children we’re supposed to serve by cutting their enrichment repeatedly for ‘special projects’ of the directors and ceo’s friends….special projects that continue year after year with no outcome. I brought this to hr and the ceo. Hr tried to stop me. Hr got fired. CEO finally had to meet with me. I’m out now, but I dearly wish I could warn Mrs. b and the billionaires how their money is being misused, and warn the families in need they are essentially props to the people gripping the budget and narrative.
13points