Workers at Lumon Group, a design company, were confused. Why were commenters on its Instagram account asking whether they were “severed,” and what did that even mean? It turned out that Lumon shares its brand name with one of the most talked-about corporations of the moment: Lumon Industries, the enigmatic, intimidating, and highly fictional employer at the center of the hit Apple TV+ show ‘Severance.’ Many real-life businesses called Lumon or Lumen have since become the butt of jokes in their industries, according to executives: “Next thing you know, your wife is missing and you don’t remember 12 hours of your day,” an Instagram user commented on a recent post from Lumen, a maker of metabolic-measurement devices. “Praise Kier!” wrote another, referencing the elusive, cultlike founder of the fictional Lumon. As viewership of ‘Severance’ has reached new heights, the real Lumons and Lumens of the world are deciding whether and how to address their names’ new echo. Tap the link in bio to read more, via @wsj in Apple News+. Photo: Lumon Group