People make mistakes, and while they say we should try to forgive others, sometimes you can’t help but laugh at silly blunders. Especially when the person just had one task on their to-do list at work. Imagine installing a bathroom mirror at a height that only NBA players can comfortably use.
Or painting a parking spot for a car that’s so small that only a motorcycle can fit in that space. Whether employees were having a bad day or didn’t really care about the task at hand, these hilarious work mishaps have people screaming, "You Had One Job!".
We at Bored Panda have compiled some of the best examples of a job (not) well done. Keep scrolling to see how people manage to bundle things up in the most entertaining ways possible.
This post may include affiliate links.
Sure, Right After You Write It
PLUS, "America includes Mexico and all of South America - and most Canadians speak French. SO THERE!!! hehe Say instead: You're In The USA, Speak English
Making silly mistakes at work is quite common. Sometimes you are in a rush so instead of writing "shifts" you end up writing "shits" in your presentation. While showing the slide to the client, you realize it reads, "4 shits a day, 7 days a week". Occasional typos and grammatical errors can be embarrassing but make for a good laugh sometimes.
Similarly, imagine someone installed a staircase but it was upside-down. These silly errors not only raise some pressing questions but sometimes also result in wasted time and money. In the world of marketing, brands, even popular ones, sometimes make blunders that can lead to heavy losses.
I Used To Read
Yeah, kind of reads like they were trying to make their 'mistake' go viral.
Load More Replies...i treated myself to a hardback version of my favourite book, someday i may even upgrade to leatherback
Oh, totally. I had a mishmash of editions of the Anne of green gables series…I have upgraded to a beautiful, vintage, hardback set and I LOVE seeing them on my shelves (and occasionally in my hands).
Load More Replies...I once participated in this thing where you give someone *else* a copy of your favourite book. I don't have a single favourite book as such, but my chose was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. A book that is pure pleasure to read! (Sadly the movie adaptation seems to have stalled).
I own multiple copies of mt two favorite books and if it is a cover/print i don't own I can often be talked into another
I have about 7 of Emma (love the book and I have the same name) after I decided to cut back and donated some!
Load More Replies...I wear my physical books out and may need replacements down the line.
Oh No, Not Germans!
Now, now, the Daily Fail once thought the Germans were onto a good thing - mind you that was in the 1930s
Load More Replies...We saw what happens when Germans spread back in WWII. We don't want that again!
Many companies put a lot of time and effort into making unique advertisements. In the last few years, the amount businesses allocate for this has increased significantly. In 2023, an average of 9.1% of overall company revenue was spent on marketing compared to just 6.4% in 2021.
The packaged goods industry spends around 25% of their earnings on making creative commercials to attract new consumers. The pharma business spends roughly 12.83% and the real estate industry spends around 10.61%. The banking and insurance sector has a budget of approximately 9.49%.
Looks About Right
“On paper, I don’t have all the qualifications for the job but if you’d just give me a chance …”
Didn't Fit In The Mailbox
The skill and dedication to actually bend that door is admirable 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
That Wasn't Supposed To Happen
Literally had this happen! (pack of pug puppies). Hysterical laughter followed.
Pack of a breed that will have breathing problems their entire life...
Load More Replies...Those sprays don't work at all. I use Febreeze for fabric in a really strong scent and it works like a charm. My cats won't scratch on whatever it's sprayed on, either. Brilliant stuff.
Well yeah it works. . . hasn't chewed on anything else for quite awhile now. . .!
Jesus Was Working Today
I always thought Jesus would make a great character in a funny sitcom. "Oh Jesus, what have you gotten us into this time."
Have you seen History of the World Part 1 on Netflix? There’s a part where Jesus looks upset and someone asks him what’s wrong. He responds, “Oh, my dad’s back on his bullshìt”. I guffawed.
Load More Replies......gold..shlagger? Schnauzer? Lol I'm purposely screwing up the spelling bc i can't pronounce this right 😂
Load More Replies...Some One Told Me To Put This Here Soooo
I actually have 19 years of 0 experience! Hope that's enough.
It's like they used Google translate through another more neutral language on the way.
United States is NOT the same as English! DUH! Lemme show you a few basics: *eagle noises* *liberty noises* *Horses noises* *anthem noises* *gunshots* *cowboy noises* *slurping of Starbucks noises*
I'm sorry but your "eagle noises" are wrong. the bald eagle's call sounds not at all majestic.
Load More Replies...Let's go to your apartment and watch the Superbowl, and I'll fix us some buffalo wings and Nachos. It's what most anyone else would do for a friend. (How did I do?).
No Wonder I Was Struggling
Probably because he works at a jigsaw factory.
Load More Replies...Not as a reference while doing the puzzle, but most certainly before I decide to purchase it. 🤷♀️
Load More Replies...I've spent way too much time staring at this, trying to decide which is best, but I think I prefer the picture at the top
Online advertising in the United States generated a whopping $2.225 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. With advancement in technology and fewer geographic restrictions, brands are able to reach a larger audience. Which means their mistakes are viewed if not by millions, then at least thousands of people worldwide.
That's One Short Cord
Cord looks like it just realized it's been found out it was lying in the description.
Food May Contain Human Flesh
I Mean
Sometimes the essence of an ad is lost due to translation mistakes, making it tricky to impress new users. While launching in Italy, Schweppes, a British brand known for its ginger ale and tonic water, translated their name to “Schweppes Toilet Water”. Italians were left confused and the sales took a hit. The company had to rebrand to rectify their error, assuring people they weren’t selling bathroom products.
I Wonder If They're Hiring
This Bike Sign
Last I checked, feces is not secure in any way. It's kind of mushy.
Very Relateable
Lack of punctuations or eating diarrhea? How many times did you try before accepting that you can't eat it?
Load More Replies...In another instance, HSBC Bank allocated a huge budget to translate its 5-year-old “Assume Nothing” ad. However, it was mistranslated to mean “Do Nothing” in many countries. Later, they changed their slogan to “The World’s Private Bank”.
It’s not just monetary losses, sometimes accidental mistakes can have major impacts.
Ah !! The Starbucks Drive - Thru (9 3/4) For Hogwarts Students
You're going to need to have a good run-up, and really step on that accelerator.
It really helps if you're driving an old Ford anglia
Load More Replies...An Honest Mistake, But I Can’t Help But Feel Bad For This Guy
If only there was a place you could see what was going to be in the photo
To be fair, that guide actually did the "one job" he had, which was get this guy to the top of the mountain.
My friends and I drove to the top of Mt. Washington on July 4th 1988. I asked someone to take a pic with my Pentax K1000 35mm camera of my bff and I with the summit sign. A week or so later I brought said camera to a party and took a bunch of pics there....and then realizing that I must have exceeded the 24 exposure film, and possibly a 36 exp roll. There was no window on the back of those cameras in those days that showed a bit of yellow from the film cannister. So I went into a pitch black closet and opened the back and felt inside. No film at all. I was devastated. I was so good about replacing my film every time too.
I worked at a photo processing facility (pre-digital), One customer had a roll of film with about 15 pictures of a European vacation. Unfortunately the rest of the roll was blank, as was the other 49 rolls.
Left the lens cap on? Like that soldier at the Bob Hope USO show in Vietnam?
Load More Replies...Job To Censor This Guy's Face
Even the pixelated part doesn't really work. If that was someone, like a son or brother, in your life, you'd still recognize him.
The instructions to the editor were to blur the perp’s face, no mention of reflections.
A major oversight that occurred in 2009 was when NASA taped over the original recordings of one of the most historic events in human history - the moon landing. In this case, the officials had newly restored copies of the original recordings of this momentous event.
Another blunder that can have long-lasting consequences is getting the wrong design tattooed on your body. Imagine the words “No ragrets” inked on your body instead of “No regrets”. The irony, right?
They've Been Mowing For The Past Month
That's kind of cute. Now I want to round up a whole lot of road cones and put them on the lawn.
Hope they get that troll out of the hole soon.
Load More Replies...Well, it isn't exactly mowing around it. There isn't longer grass around the outer edge of where the cone would sit, which suggests they've been taking the cone off and putting it back over after the surrounding grass is mown each time.
Load More Replies...If you make a rock statue, fill its head with soil and leave the top open, then plant grass seed, cone it, let it grow, remove cone. Statue troll.
Finished Labeling The Package, Boss
Biking, biking, biking, biking, biking, biking, biking, biking, biking, biking, biking, biking, mushroom, mushroom.....
ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v
cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger,
Goddamnit Bruce!
I hope there's an untold tale of malicious compliance to go with this one.
While some of these accidental failures could occur because people are lazy or incompetent, it could also be possible that they are overworked or stressed. Many workers believe that being burned out negatively affects their job performance. Also, sometimes, to protest against management, employees purposely neglect their responsibilities.
My Mom Found A Whole Potato In The Bag Of French Fries Tonight
You Had One Job
That depends on what you define as long. I'd say something is long if it exceeds one banana, but that's not going to fly here!
Load More Replies...Where is this store? I want silent party beefs $4 LB.
Load More Replies...Who cares what they're called at less than a cent per pound! (should be $.78/lb or 78¢/lb). To be fair, I see this mistake regularly...
It actually doesn't say cents so you can assume the numbers after the decimal point refer to a fraction of a dollar.
Load More Replies...Dammit, You Had One Job
This is where I was going to go with it, too.
Load More Replies...Quiet quitting, a popular trend in today’s work culture, could also be a reason why employees only do the bare minimum. They usually lose interest in their jobs as they are dissatisfied with the lack of work-life balance.
While silly mistakes are funny, it’s always better to know and understand the reason behind it. Which one of these slip-ups made you smile? Have you made a stupid mistake at work recently?
I’m Sure He’ll Be Happy With This Gift
I do newspaper layout. Our editors actively help us avoid nonsense like this.
A friend got me a subscription to Reader's Digest when I was in county jail. It came with a free set of ginsu knives. I never received even one of my knives!
Lol! I went out of my way to teach you to rob gas stations and yet you STILL can't pay rent?! Ya that guy got ta go
Someone Really Hates Kids
Visible Confusion
But water doesn't smoke. Water is what you use to stop things from smoking.
Load More Replies...*struggling* No, I, can't, hold, back! Nooo- "Smoooooke on the wateeer, and fire in the skies!"
Load More Replies...The sign shows the result of someone being overwhelmed by all the smoke. So..No smoking. See what can happen.
How Does This Happen?
I think I'll get a Dutch one and lay it on its side. Would that work? Oh I don't know s/
Sure but if you flip it, it's red white blue, right? Colors are not in the right order. 😉😊 ........................,................ Made you check it, didn't I?
Load More Replies...They have been through the war, but they pillowed onward.
Load More Replies...Dutch are tight bastards (I am one), so it makes sense to sell cheaper to them. The French are just thick.
For a tight bastard you've got a very French name, but I support your opinions 100%
Load More Replies...The French do have a higher opinion of themselves than the Dutch... Reflected in the premium price?
Don't Worry Boss, I Wrote
* smokes in Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish and Latin*
Load More Replies...This reminds me when I sent a coworker some connection data for a load test he was creating to call a web service. I had to send passwords for the requests. I put the password down for the first one, then for the other passwords, I wrote "Ditto". He set the password to the word "Ditto". I do blame myself, but still.... Not sure why I didn't just copy/paste the password, but that way, he could just copy it once, knowing it was the same for all, without having to scrutinize each one or copy each one individually.
I think that a lot of people have no idea what the word "ditto" means. They may not even know about Ditto copies, and certainly don't know the abbreviation "do".
Load More Replies...YOOOOOO, GUYS, THAT'S CRAZY, DIDNT KNOW, I CAN READ ARABIC!1!!1!1!1!1!1!1!1
Give Cyclists Space
I've seen this photo a few times and only just noticed a car parked in the bike lane as well.
Well I, for one, think anyone who rides a pushbike on a busy road deserves all they get.
Have A Good Die!
He Probably Meant It
Hello there. You will marry me. (Yoda, in the background: "Marry you, she will.")
Load More Replies...Notice there are no question marks. So I'm pretty sure it's a statement, not a question.
My mind created a scenario where they first unfurled a "Will you marry me?" sign, and when the woman said yes they unfurled this one.
Anti Vaccine Protests, Today In Toronto. They Ain't Too Bright 😬
By recognizing that you showed you're smarter than this stupid imbécile.
Load More Replies...https://rumors.newslit.org/no-an-anti-vax-protester-didnt-create-a-sign-saying-he-knows-more-than-the-scietists/
Donny Dementia said that, he also said that bout the Genrals and attornknees.
"World's Most Helpful Error Message" (Captured From A Ltt Video)
And then you spend 2 1/2 hours waiting to talk to a "live" person who also can only tell you the same thing because she gets the same response. . .!
Safety First
When John got sacked from the jigsaw factory he tuck up being a gardener
john really be out there hating on all of society
Load More Replies...Thanks for coming today to our demonstration of our No-zap™ line of waterproof high voltage cabinets.
I Am So Confused
The pregnancy test knows you were in a threeways... It knows!
Load More Replies...Posted The Sign, Boss
Many hands make light work. So it's good if you need more light.
Load More Replies...My new fear. . . fertilizer will multiply the germs of those people who actually do this. . .!
I'm sorry, but there was a post a couple of swipes up about unable to eat...
That's... Not A Fox
Raccoons are sly too. It could actually be a raccoon trying to make you think it's a fox undercover as a raccoon.
Load More Replies...I Feel So Safe
The American health care system’s response to people with mental health issues 😡🥺
Who, ironically, are the cause of so many mental health issues!
Load More Replies...*Punches wall until knuckles are bloody* WHY ISN'T IT WORKING?!?
The sign that said, "We do not care about your f*****g problems" was deemed "too direct" so they changed to this.
Ah, Scohol. Those Were The Days
"Hey boss, why do I have to write the sign about the place I didn't ever go to?"
Not so sure it’s an error. Would make drivers look at it twice and think what it’s trying to say (and probably collect some school kid with their fender while they’re distracted ).
Found This Gem
that made me laugh more than it should have. also, i had a cat named Charlie. best cat name ever!
Load More Replies...Except Mario isn't American, he's Japanese. His last name is Itsumi. Itsumi Mario
That was an awesome joke, don't know why you got downvoted
Load More Replies...I looked it up, I think it’s a whole other thing, like calico critters but Korean?
Load More Replies..."Do Not Double Stack"
The person who taught this person how to read, definitely missed a few pages.
Legend Has It That It's Still Good To This Day
Is it possible this was intentional to show the date format used (since this was printed well before packaging) and the actual best-before date is elsewhere, probably ink jet printed? Of course, the day was probably 12.12.2024.
The date is almost certainly jet-printed on the bottom of the can.
Load More Replies...Yeah well, let those Californians worry about it, the rest of us could care less. . .!
Perfect Bench Placement
I really like drench bench, could it be drench bench?
Load More Replies...Or where the Creature from the Black Lagoon likes to sit
Load More Replies...Y'know those days where you just embrace every crappy little thing that can happen to you, then you see this bench and go, 'Perfect.'
Nope
This is the last job the street painter had before he got into the fertilizer factory.
Load More Replies...Fun fact. Fortune cookies go really well with ice cream. Very similar in taste to cones.
Who Went Through With This?
Somewhere In Australia Maybe
But … how? That takes planning, like considered planning and effort. There’s no way that has happened without the dudes knowing what they’re doing
Those stairs are poured using molds. The molds were clearly upside-down.
Load More Replies...help i have a severe brain injury and am now bleeding out
Load More Replies...Why Stamp The Expiration Date On The Bag When You Can Just Mark The Bun Directly?
Because that's how those machines work. They're actually pretty cool. One of my jobs had one and I could totally temporary tattoo myself just by swinging my arm through it.
Yep. I would guess, going by my own experience in food packaging, that there was a part of that batch that went through sans bags on accident and they all ended up in the rework bin. And the rework detail didn't notice or didn't care that a few of them were printed on.
Load More Replies...A Genius Baker
Well if I was a baker I wouldn't put some stranger's USB key into my computer to look at a picture, who knows what viruses are on it. Should have given them a printout
OMG first I did not understand the problem, I was thinking "i don't see the problem, it is very acurate" I am slow today 😂
You Had One Job!!
there are so many solutions to this situation... this is NOT one of them
We have cabinets and drawers just like this at work, in a place owned by an architectural firm.
Spin both handles 180 degrees away from each other and refix. You should then be able to open both drawers with more access. Simples!!
I have this problem. I put all of my husband's baking c**p in those drawers, I own the rest of the kitchen. 😁
Any Given Monday
In France, the bags have the date and day of the week. I like that better than the US norm. Perhaps the ink jets to place the date were blocked (or wouldn't print because they were out of magenta ink).
Yeah, this isn't good for the folks who just shove stuff in the fridge and stuff get pushed to the back. WHICH F'ing Monday?
I’m A Stocker, And Found This Gem. They Forgot To Add The Pickles
People use pickle brine for chicken breasts, fried chicken sandwiches. I'd take that one home.
I'd buy it at a discount to drink it. Sometimes my body just craves a lot of salt, and this really hits the spot.
Load More Replies...Add some to 1 part ketchup, 2 parts mayo, a splash of Worcestershire sauce, and some choice herbs for prime fry-dipping sauce.
If someone ate the pickles, how is the jar nearly full?
Load More Replies...That's what the jar in my fridge looks like. Apparently my SO saves the pickle juice. 🤷🏿
For people who say hold the pickles, where do you think all those no pickles come from?
This Is Close To Impressive
Fargile! That's a new one. I usually say fra-gil-ey (like in Christmas Story) when the word is fragile. Fargile has been added to the lineup.
This has to be something made in another country and the translation went awry
One in three instructions is spelt correctly, but keeping an item dry is nothing to do with direction!
Accessibility
I could paint this disabled logo much more easily if it wasn't for these damned...wait a minute...
When You Really Just Don't Care
When nobody cares besides your dispatcher. "I tied down the load boss".
My guess: Done because laws require any loads to be strapped down on flat trailers
Yeah, each pile "securely strapped down"
Load More Replies...John was fired from being a gardener. He resorted to being a truck driver
Slenderman Is Crying
Oh yeah, that guy made SUCH a mess and must have eaten their entire inventory, and you can bet insurance wouldn't cover it.
Load More Replies...I'm assuming from the hand sanitizer that the sign was supposed to say "no face mask, no entry"
Load More Replies...I wouldn't dream of entering without a face, because I wouldn't be able to see where I was going!
Two Teams Of Builders Building A Bike Lane “On The Right Hand Side” (Mariupol, Ukraine)
I assume they noticed a while before getting here but made the decision to just finish it rather than redo the path and spend days / weeks fixing it.
Load More Replies...Well, this makes sense. They started on opposite ends. Now calculate the time it took before they met each other going at X pace. This amount of time is what it took for someone to NOT figure out that maybe.. maybe .. Divide amount of hours it took to meet into the highest measured IQ. Outcome : brain power of that person.
Seen mistakes like this myself. Measure from the MIDDLE. Base all measurements from an established centerline.
What Did Children With Diabetes Ever Do To You?
So Boss I Have Finished Labelling All Them Bottles
That's a machine applied label. It should have ended up lower on the bottle where it's wider. Just a small adjustment if you know the machine.
Then it would say orange pee pee, maybe?
Load More Replies...Drink lots of water, orange pee is a sign of dehydration. Also, beer can also make you dehydrated.
It Was Almost Fine
Their job is to follow the print. Verifying that the print is correct is someone else's job.
Load More Replies...Now why would someone build the road on the wrong side of street lights? /s
The lamps are facing away from the road, so they don't illuminate it.
Load More Replies...Touch Bread With What?
Then What Does It Do?
There's a reason Office Space destroyed a printer with extreme prejudice. Office printers are the absolute worst.
I thought this was a joke until my first office job and I saw someone rage out on a malfunctioning printer. I felt like I witnessed a violent crime.
Load More Replies...Gee Thanks Dude
Maybe when the sign was spread out on a flat surface for painting and drying out, the word 'not' showed up, so they didn't know there was a problem.
Allergic To What Now?
I'm allergic to codeine... And yes, the irony is not lost on me.
It's a simple data entry error. You would have to know the machine to understand. You can remove the item by pressing backspace, oh let's see, 9-10 times and then enter. Ray Ceeya was my trainer.
Not Sure If It Quite Fits Here But
Why are people like this, allowed to breathe same air as the rest of us?
I've met my husband. Only person I've ever known to literally fry his cell phone on the stove. He was trying to dry it out. Couldn't be bothered to ask his teenage son who was in his room for advice. Yes, he killed the phone. At least, he didn't go through with the first idea. First idea was the microwave. 😕
Load More Replies...Never Knew A Maze Would Be This Easy!
Good Job, Africa
Thought it was ireland, with all them elephants
Load More Replies...Turn Rliegfht
If you ignore the road markings, I think everything says turn left.
Load More Replies...You Became The Very Thing You Swore To Destroy
The Store Be Like: Stonks📈
Are Lizards Going To Start Falling From The Sky
This is actually a real thing. In Florida, when the temperature gets too low, iguanas go torpid and can fall from trees. And when they warm up, such as if a person picks them up, they can start to attack. So yes, lizards Are going to start falling from the sky. This isn't a joke or a fail, its a genuine warning.
One Job... One Job
Does the button correspond to the arrow? Or the words? I wouldn't be able to handle this.
I can see an argument with a toddler when trying to teach them left and right. I can also see our granddaughter pulling this remote out just to prove me wrong, 😆. And people wonder why we don't have TV
An argument with a toddler? I was 7 when I learnt left and right. (At least I think I learnt them!)
Load More Replies...Again, common core says right can be left and left can be right and up can be right and down can be left and everything has just become blurry... can't see....
Forever Cone
That's just sand. When they come back to finish the job they can remove the cone easily.
Thanks For The Informative Picture
Sotp?
New Bathroom At Work…
When corporate finally installs a door that goes all the way to the bottom, but still won't let you have any privacy...
WTF? So no one said anything. Right down to the people installing the door.
Looks Like #tacobell Couldn’t Find The Inside Of A Taco
im no taco expert so correct me if im wrong but, that looks way too depressing to be a taco
Come On Man
we all know that they knew EXACTLY what they were doing, perfect sales idea too because someone would buy it just to see the cashier's face when they scan it
You Had One Job
This is not a function of poor design, but of age. Drainage inlets don't just sit on the surface, there is a concrete box underneath it. Over time, especially in a grassy area like this, the rest of the surface can settle or erode. But the concrete does not, which causes the rest of the ground to lower itself beneath the drain.
If that were the case then it is poor design. The design should consider the settling.
Load More Replies...You know how there was the fad of anchor tattoos with the phrase 'I will never sink'? It's been updated for the new generation.
My Venus Fly Trap Is Getting Fired
Hasn’t it already eaten a couple of flies and that’s why some of them are closed until it’s been digested? I think there are too many flies for it to eat.
After we learnt about Venus fly-traps at school, I wanted one but my mother wouldn't let me. I was so disappointed!
Even though -- shock horror -- I've seen quite a few of them before, they're still funny!
Load More Replies...The only one job encounter I had was when I bought fish roe from the shop and they labelled black fish roe as orange
Even though -- shock horror -- I've seen quite a few of them before, they're still funny!
Load More Replies...The only one job encounter I had was when I bought fish roe from the shop and they labelled black fish roe as orange
