Greg Heaslip wanted to take some time off work.
So on Thursday he did the normal thing of emailing his line manager at Arcadia Group, where he works as a security guard, to request the annual leave.
It was at this point that things started to go awry...
Heaslip’s line manager accidentally forwarded his holiday request to 3,500 staff members working at Arcadia, the retail group that owns fashion chains Topshop, BHS, and Dorothy Perkins.
#givegregtheholiday
Natalie Cowan@nat2903Follow
#givegregtheholiday
12:35 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
And work for the day quickly ground to a halt as the #GiveGregTheHoliday hashtag was born.
#GIVEGREGTHEHOLIDAY #ARCADIA
Kimberly Jaina @KimberlyJainaFollow
#GIVEGREGTHEHOLIDAY #ARCADIA
10:36 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
@BHS_UK mayhem in the office #givegregtheholiday
Nicolette Morgan@nicomorgan90Follow
@BHS_UK mayhem in the office #givegregtheholiday
10:42 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Does anyone know if Greg's holiday has been approved? Edge of my seat here! #GIVEGREGTHEHOLIDAY
Rebecca McGuigan@RebeccasPixelsFollow
Does anyone know if Greg's holiday has been approved? Edge of my seat here! #GIVEGREGTHEHOLIDAY
11:26 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
The joke started off as an in-joke among Arcadia employees.
An email chain at work is hilarious! A holiday request was sent to the whole head office & replies are genius. Including #givegregtheholiday
Carina Sullivan@carina100Follow
An email chain at work is hilarious! A holiday request was sent to the whole head office & replies are genius. Including #givegregtheholiday
10:53 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
A holiday request was accidentally emailed to the entire company (1000s of people). Everyone is giddy #GIVEGREGTHEHOLIDAY #FreeGreg
Abi Sanders@AbiSandersFollow
A holiday request was accidentally emailed to the entire company (1000s of people). Everyone is giddy #GIVEGREGTHEHOLIDAY #FreeGreg
10:43 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Email storm at Arcadia HQ this morning. Somebody please #givegregtheholiday #bhs @BHS_UK
Arti Joshi@aisforartiFollow
Email storm at Arcadia HQ this morning. Somebody please #givegregtheholiday #bhs @BHS_UK
11:38 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Office domination of #givegregtheholiday How will you vote today?
Sarah Joy Brewer@Brewski_21Follow
Office domination of #givegregtheholiday
How will you vote today?
1:10 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
It apparently even broke someone's computer.
Greg's holiday crashing my laptop! #givegregtheholiday
Alexandra Smith@smithygreeneyesFollow
Greg's holiday crashing my laptop! #givegregtheholiday
11:31 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
The joke soon spread across the internet.
We're in the offices opposite Arcadia, so it would be rude not to back Greg #givegregtheholiday
Econsultancy@EconsultancyFollow
We're in the offices opposite Arcadia, so it would be rude not to back Greg #givegregtheholiday
11:48 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
#givegregtheholiday
Suzanna Dearing@SuzannaDearingFollow
#givegregtheholiday
12:24 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Brands got involved.
Give the lad some sun! #givegregtheholiday
TOPMAN@TopmanFollow
Give the lad some sun! #givegregtheholiday
11:05 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Greg, we're sending you this @Elemis Mens travel collection to take on your travels, enjoy! #Givegregtheholiday
ELEMIS@ElemisFollow
Greg, we're sending you this @Elemis Mens travel collection to take on your travels, enjoy! #Givegregtheholiday
1:37 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Things escalated pretty quickly...
You should come and visit us here in #ValedoLobo Greg! #givegregtheholiday
Vale do Lobo Algarve@vale_do_loboFollow
You should come and visit us here in #ValedoLobo Greg! #givegregtheholiday
7:54 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
And then BOOM — TrekAmerica really stepped it up and offered him a free trip to Las Vegas!
We're taking action and have decided to #givegregtheholiday. A TrekAmerica mini adventure with flights to Vegas. #GregGotTheHoliday!
TrekAmerica@trekamericaFollow
We're taking action and have decided to #givegregtheholiday. A TrekAmerica mini adventure with flights to Vegas. #GregGotTheHoliday!
6:47 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
And everyone pretty much lost their minds.
As if someone sent the whole of Arcadia an accidental email for Holiday request and got a free holiday to Vegas #givegregtheholiday
HarleyMangan_x@HarleyManganFollow
As if someone sent the whole of Arcadia an accidental email for Holiday request and got a free holiday to Vegas à½Ã¹ˆÃ ½Ã¸‚ #givegregtheholiday
11:59 AM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
All happened so fast - not sure if he's going to office or the pool. #givegregtheholiday
Andi Best Design@AndiBDesignFollow
All happened so fast - not sure if he's going to office or the pool. #givegregtheholiday
1:32 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
#givegregtheholiday for those tuning in late...
Ben Davis@herrhuldFollow
#givegregtheholiday for those tuning in late...
1:50 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
And brands kept on jumping on the bandwagon.
Nice one Greg you're off to Sin City, here's some stuff to fill your baggage allowance #givegregtheholiday #Vegasbaby
VO5 Extreme Style@VO5ExtremeStyleFollow
Nice one Greg you're off to Sin City, here's some stuff to fill your baggage allowance #givegregtheholiday #Vegasbaby
3:50 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Enjoy Vegas Greg! Anyone want to join him? http://t.co/5oYjSUGyyy #givegregtheholiday
Thomas Cook@ThomasCookUKFollow
Enjoy Vegas Greg! Anyone want to join him? http://t.co/5oYjSUGyyy #givegregtheholiday
12:51 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Greg got the holiday, now Greg can get the tshirt. Does anyone know his size? #givegregtheholiday #GregGotTheHoliday
Greg got the holiday, now Greg can get the tshirt. Does anyone know his size? #givegregtheholiday #GregGotTheHoliday
3:19 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
#givegregtheholiday Don't worry Greg about your Vegas wardrobe; we've pulled some strings & got you some freebie polos & shorts!
BHS UK@BHS_UKFollow
#givegregtheholiday Don't worry Greg about your Vegas wardrobe; we've pulled some strings & got you some freebie polos & shorts!
12:09 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Arcadia later revealed Heaslip's holiday request had been OK'd before all the fun.
"The holiday request had actually already been approved on the system and Greg will get his holiday," a spokesperson said.
Some were a little upset though.
#GregGotTheHoliday My boyfriend works for Arcadia. If only he'd put in his holiday form today....,
Samantha@mysticsamyFollow
#GregGotTheHoliday My boyfriend works for Arcadia. If only he'd put in his holiday form today....,
11:30 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
But the real winner was Greg. True fame achieved.
Really hope #givegregtheholiday makes it onto @BuzzFeed or @MailOnline - true fame awaits! #greggottheholiday
Sophie Wood@sophieannstyleFollow
Really hope #givegregtheholiday makes it onto @BuzzFeed or @MailOnline - true fame awaits! #greggottheholiday
12:37 PM - 22 May 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
UPDATE: Greg has now been located.
He had no idea he'd gone viral on the internet, and he's donated all his free stuff to the Stephen Sutton cancer charity. He's still taking his two days off, though - he's taking his wife and two daughters to Chessington World of Adventures.
