<Tr> <Th> Nationality </Th> <Td> American </Td> </Tr> <P> Toby Flenderson, M.S.W. (born in 1971) is a fictional character on the U.S. comedy television series, The Office . He is portrayed by the show's writer, director, producer and showrunner Paul Lieberstein, and is an original character with no equivalent in The Office (UK TV series). </P> <P> Toby Flenderson is the human resources representative for the Scranton branch of paper distributor Dunder Mifflin / Sabre . Mild - mannered to the point of being physically incapable to voice his opinions or assert himself, Toby can be somewhat mournful about his life choices (he fell into the field of Human Resources after leaving his training at seminary in order to pursue the woman he'd later marry and painfully divorce). He likes his colleagues, although he is sometimes exasperated by the excessively chatty Kelly Kapoor . He also has a long - standing crush on Pam Halpert, which he almost reveals at the end of Season 4 when he resigns from his position to move to Costa Rica . Toby was intensely despised by branch manager Michael Scott, largely because Michael had no authority over him as Toby reported to corporate headquarters, and because Toby frequently tried to dissuade Michael from many of his ill - conceived and impulsive ideas . Michael sums up his feelings for Toby in the episode "Casino Night," asking, "Why are you the way that you are? Honestly every time I try to do something fun or exciting, you make it not that way . I hate so much about the things that you choose to be ." For Toby's going away party in "Goodbye Toby," Michael gives him as a gift a rock with a note attached reading "Suck on This!" Shortly after arriving in Costa Rica, Toby suffers a zip - line accident and midway through season 5, he returns to his old job at Dunder Mifflin, much to Michael's fury . </P> <P> In his childhood, Toby was forced to testify against both of his parents when the two got divorced . He attended Bishop O'Hara High School and is a Penn State University alumnus . In the Season 5 episode "Casual Friday," a diploma at his cubicle reveals Toby also has a B.S. in Psychology from California Coastal College . The Season 7 episode "Counseling" reveals that he has a degree in social work from Temple University . Toby was in a seminary for a year but dropped out because he wanted to have sex with a girl . He followed her back to Scranton, married her and had a young daughter named Sasha . Toby is also divorced (a fact which Michael constantly and unkindly mentions). Toby loves his daughter and went the extra mile in "Moroccan Christmas" to buy her one of Dwight's Princess Unicorn dolls, noting that his ex-wife "will be so pissed" and that "for once, Daddy's going to be a hero ." He went to Amsterdam for a week (or a month) after his divorce . </P>

When does toby come back to the office