Peter Gibbons
Peter Gibbons is a 28-year-old computer programmer at the Initech Corporation, and the film's protagonist. In the beginning of the film, Peter is in the midst of a midlife crisis, as he has grown weary of his mundane, day-to-day life; abusive, overbearing superiors; and unfaithful girlfriend. Following a hypnotherapy session, Peter becomes perpetually relaxed and apathetic. It is his idea to embezzle the penny fractions from the company, which he includes Michael and Samir as a part of.
Bill Lumbergh
Bill Lumbergh is the divisional Vice President of Initech Corporation, and the film's primary antagonist. He is a cliche' caricature of corporate management, who is notably attired in both suspenders and a belt (which defeats each other's purposes). His main focuses throughout the film are paperwork and TPS reports. His unenthusiastic greetings and monotone voice exemplify his "soul-less, corporate-driven personality."
Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton is a software programmer at Initech Corporation, and a coworker of Peter's. Despite his gawky, meek appearance, he is a fan of gangster rap. After learning of his impending job-loss as a result of downsizing, he creates the software which enables the primary cast to embezzle penny fractions from the company.
Samir Nagheenanajar
Samir Nagheenanajar is a software programmer at Initech Corporation, and a coworker of Peter's. He is an immigrant from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After learning of his impending job loss as a result of downsizing, he installs the software which enables the primary cast to embezzle penny fractions from the company.
Lawerence
Lawerence is Peter's neighbor and friend. He is a construction worker with long hair and a handlebar mustache, who is always seen with a beer. Him and Peter often converse through their apartment's thin, hollow walls.
Bob Slydell and Bob Porter
"The Bob's" are corporate consultants who are sent to the office to assess employees and oversee the downsizing process. Peter's candid, indifferent honesty impresses them enough to give him a promotion.
Anne
Anne is Peter's first girlfriend in the film, who is abrasive, short-tempered and infidelious. It is her idea for Peter to have a therapy session with Dr. Swanson. Anne breaks up with Peter via voicemail, after he sleeps in and misses work.
Dr. Swanson
Dr. Swanson is a therapist whom Peter visits at Anne's request. He is a portly man with glasses and has a distinguishable birthmark on his right temple. Dr. Swanson hypnotizes Peter and puts him in a state of relaxation, although he suffers a fatal heart attack before he is able to break Peter's trance.
Joanna
Joanna is a waitress at Chotchkie's, and Peter's love interest following his breakup with Anne. She is a blonde-haired, blue eyed, attractive woman. Her job requires its employees to wear a minimum of fifteen pins and buttons, or "flair," which is a frequent clashing point between Joanna and her boss. Her and Peter date and bond over their mutual disdain for idiotic management and meaningless occupations.
Milton
Milton is an employee at Initech Corporation, who is afflicted with a non-specified mental handicap. He wears thick glasses and is obsessed with his radio (listened to "at a reasonable volume") and red stapler. Although he was laid off five years prior to the film's events, he wasn't informed and continued receiving pay due to a "glitch in the matrix." His desk is frequently moved around by Lumbergh, eventually being placed in the basement. At the conclusion of the film, he is responsible for setting the office building on fire.
