Workers Share Secret Company Information That Might Change How You Do Things in The Future

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The world has become more and more secretive, to the point we struggle to separate real from fake news. What’s a trade secret you know from working in your industry?

Trade Secrets

One of the perks of working a job is learning all the insider secrets. Whether that’s finding out what’s actually in the secret sauce at a beloved restaurant or how call centers hold music functions, being behind the scenes has its perks.

But everyone knows secrets are more fun when shared, so users flocked to social media to give a peek behind the curtain of their respective industries. Here are the top ten trade secrets:

1. You might get away with stealing

“When you shop at Walmart, do you sometimes hear the announcement saying security camera to zone six, or another number?” a former Walmart employee wrote. “They play them randomly in the hopes that someone who might be stealing will get paranoid thinking they’re being watched and will decide not to shoplift.”

2. The call center hears all

Everyone’s had the experience: you call the cable or phone company, and after selecting from an automated menu, you finally get an actual human! Then that human puts you on hold. Be careful what you say while waiting, though; they might be listening!

“If you call a call center of any kind, and the person you’re talking to puts you on hold with no hold music, they can hear everything you’re saying.” A user shared. “I worked in an insurance call center when I was really young. I had so many people accidentally confess to insurance fraud that way.”

3. The game is stacked against you

The dreaded skill crane machine, filled to the brim with stuffed unicorns and cute bears all waiting to be rescued—if the finicky little claw would actually grip something!

“Arcade crane games have knobs inside that let you control how strong the claw grabs.” A former arcade staff member wrote. “So you basically make the claw really weak strength, and then there’s a setting in the motherboard to make the claw go full power after a certain amount of plays. The arcade owner decides how often they want people to actually win.”

4. You can hack the postage system

Want to get several last-minute gifts to your relatives before a holiday? Should have sent all those packages a week ago but forgot?

Priority overnight saves the day in a lot of cases, but those prices add up. “If you ship through FedEx express, [and] you’re sending many packages/envelopes to a single stop, ship one priority overnight and the rest standard. They’ll be delivered together with the priority package,” an insider shared.

Another express courier confirmed the trick, “This is on point. I hate having to double back to a stop, so if I see a business priority and three more standards, I get giddy because I can do that stop as one instead of two separate ones.”

5. Treat your nurses how you want to be treated

Technology has made communication better than ever—and not just on social media either. These days, health has a digital footprint as big as any other industry.

“Most electronic medical records allow providers to put pop-up warnings in your chart if you act verbally or physically aggressive,” a healthcare worker warned. “If you yelled at the ER nurse in 2017, the medical assistant you called today begging for a last-minute appointment can see it.”

6. You may want to roll up that window

“When you order at a drive-thru, the microphone stays on until you move forward,” a user told readers. “So everyone inside the store with a headset on can hear your conversation until you leave the ordering area.”

Definitely roll up that car window if you want privacy after ordering your favorite burger and fries!

7. Undercover golfing

It’s no secret that American politicians enjoy a good golf game. One user shed some light on just how much time these leaders spend on the golf course.

“Worked in high-end golf clubs for years— almost all politicians register their handicap scores under a false name,” they wrote. “The USGA [United States Golf Association] handicap records are technically public information, and people would be pretty annoyed if they knew how much time these guys actually spend playing golf.”

8. Hollywood might be out of reach

A movie industry staff member confessed, “Unless you are absolutely breathtaking in your audition (which does happen, don’t get me wrong), There is a list of thirty people each studio prioritizes to be in their major films.”

9. It’s probably a fake

“Most fossils in museums are replicas,” an insider posted. “These days, they’re usually plastic casts from silicone molds of real fossils, but 3D printed replicas made from high-resolution scans are becoming more and more a part of things.”

10. The keys to the kingdom

Even if you book online, hotel staff members have an alarming amount of power over your stay.

“Be nice to hotel front desk staff,” an employee advised, “If you’re rude or entitled, we can give you the worst version of the room you reserved right next to the elevator that will be ringing all night long. Make us laugh and be cool overall, upgrade city!”

Bonus – The not-so-secret sauce

Sweet and sour sauce is a holy grail in many American-based Chinese restaurants. One employee revealed the simple ingredients that make up the sauce—ingredients many already have in their pantries.

“Most ‘sweet and sour’ sauce from Chinese restaurants is literally just ketchup, white vinegar, and honey.”