On The Office, Stanley Hudson doesn't care about making friends, being friendly, or going the extra mile at work. When it comes to his workday at Dunder Mifflin, Stanley shows up, sells paper, and is in his car ready to go home by 5 PM sharp. He shows small acts of love for his co-workers but he's typically too enthralled with his crossword puzzle to care about much else.
While many fans think they are the Pam or Dwight of their own office, many of us are actually Stanley Hudson. He wants to nap in the middle of the workday, he gets excited over lunchtime, and he's often distracted by his favorite hobbies. When it comes to doing the bare minimum and getting the most out of it, Stanley's our guy.
Wanting To Take A Nap
Stanley isn't the best salesman but he's not the worst either. After working for the company for almost 30 years, Stanley knew a thing or two about Dunder Mifflin paper — he just wasn't inclined to teaching Ryan his ways. Nevertheless, when he worked too hard or had too much fun with his crossword puzzle, Stanley needed to take a midday nap. Now, if there's one thing all office workers can agree on, it's wanting to take a nap in the middle of the workday.
Looking Forward To Pretzel Day
Once a year, the Scranton Business Park had a man come to the lobby and make hot pretzels for anyone that wanted one. There were 18 toppings to choose from and there was a line out the door. Stanley was one of the many who loved Pretzel Day.
It was his favorite day of the year. Seeing how excited he got for a hot treat in the middle of the workday is relatable beyond measure. It's actually the one thing he and Michael could agree on.
Darting Out The Door At 5 PM
Dunder Mifflin employees are typically out the door around 5 PM but it's not unusual for a few of the workers to hang back. Jim is usually in the office later, preparing his next prank for Dwight or flirting with Pam, Michael had no one to rush home to for most of the series, so he enjoyed being at the office with his employees, and Dwight loved work more than anything else.
Stanley, on the other hand, couldn't wait to go home. Watching him put his jacket on at exactly 5 PM is the kind of energy viewers could get behind.
Will Do Pushups To Go Home Early
If there's a chance to go home early, most employees will do whatever it takes. Stanley is no different. When Michael told the office that the person who did the most pushups could go home early, Stanley was one of the first people on the ground.
His perseverance to finish the task so that he could go home was so strong that he actually did it. Out of everyone in the office, Stanely was the strongest. As much as he loved money, he loved being home in his loungewear more.
He Takes Breaks Seriously
When Sabre bought Dunder Mifflin, Robert California sent a select group of people on a business trip to prepare the launch of their first storefront. Stanley was one of the lucky workers to spend a week in sunny Florida. And while he didn't want to be working, he made the best of it. He did have a job to do, after all.
In one scene, Stanley was holding one of Sabre's Pyramid holders. Instead of pulling out the Pyramid, he pulled out a slice of pizza that was the exact size of the Pyramid and told Dwight he was on break. Now that's how you go on a break.
He Learns Nothing At Work
When Michael steps on a George Foreman Grill and burns his foot, he considers himself injured and expects his employees to take care of him. But when his workers don't take him seriously, he goes out of his way to compare his burned foot to those with actual disabilities.
During Michael's meeting, Stanely was doing his usual crossword puzzle. Michael interrupted him and asked if Stanley was learning anything from the meeting. But Stanely wasn't learning a thing, nor did he care. Stanley was the master of resting "this could have been an email" face.
Know Your Worth
Stanely was counting down the days to retirement since he was 18 years old. He's not like Phyllis or Jim who actually enjoyed coming into work to see what their coworkers were up to. He's there to make money in order to retire comfortably.
In one episode, Michael comes back from Jamaica and is excited to talk about his trip. But Stanley didn't care about Michael's vacation; he wanted to know where his bonus was. If there wasn't an explanation for his missing bonus, he wasn't working. Money was also the name of the game when he was considering switching branches. If there's one thing that workers are motivated by, it's money.
When You Hate Your Boss
Stanley doesn't waste his time with those he can't stand. The only person in the office that Stanley didn't mind was Phyllis, and that's only because she sat across from him and knew him well enough not to disturb him. It was a sweet friendship in the series.
Stanely's relationship with Michael was strained. Stanely didn't respect him and thought he was an idiot. He also didn't care if Michael knew his true thoughts on him either. While honesty is important in the workforce, not too many viewers would say what Stanley has said to Michael — at least not to their boss' face.
The Stomach Wants What The Stomach Wants
Stanely may loathe Michael but he can't deny that Michael makes the office fun. Michael loves celebrating the little things as much as the big things. It's an excuse to eat cake, play music, and finish work a little early.
As serious as Stanley is, he's motivated by sweets as much as he is by money. When someone promises him a piece of cake, he better get it. Nothing breaks up the workday quite like cake.
Going All Out For The Company Retreat
Stanley doesn't seem like the kind of man who would willingly go to a company retreat or picnic but he actually doesn't mind them. It's yet another chance to be outside of the office, drinking a cocktail. Fans have never seen Stanely happier than when he was in Florida living his best life or sipping a cocktail at the company picnic in the sunshine. At the end of the day, Stanley just wants to relax and have fun with those he doesn't find annoying. Is that too much to ask?