ADVERTISEMENT

The paradox of having a stable job is how much of a blessing and a curse it may be. Quite like a toxic relationship, you feel trapped in it but you’d be far worse off without it.

What happens there is known to all: annoying colleagues, burnouts, reheated lunches, ruined Sundays and even worse Mondays, and that very brief sense of freedom that gives you false hope every day, Monday to Friday, at 5pm sharp. And regardless of how many times we could rebinge The Office, going to work IRL lacks that excitement. There’s no Dwight in sight, not even Toby. In fact, there may be Toby in the real workplace but that doesn’t add much fun overall, if any.

So today, we rolled up some of the most relatable and painfully accurate workplace memes to lift up everyone’s spirits. In the end, nothing helps as much as having a good laugh, so all you office-bound lost souls with back problems, have a good one.

#1

Funny-Workplace-Memes

Report

Add photo comments
POST
mwangim62 avatar
Rijkærd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Little??? Oh no! I go out and have a toast to myself for being smart enough to quit sooner.

View more commentsArrow down menu

A global poll conducted by Gallup has uncovered that out of the world’s one billion full-time workers, only a handful, 15% of people, are engaged at work. It is significantly better in the U.S., at around 30% engaged, but this still means that roughly 70% of American workers aren't engaged. This comes as somewhat of a paradox, since a good job seems to be a thing that the whole world dreams of.

Millennials, individuals who were born between 1980 and 1996, seem to be especially demotivated. Most of them are coming to work with great enthusiasm, but the old management practices⁠—forms, gaps and annual reviews⁠—grind the life out of them. Unlike baby boomers, who thought of a job as “just a job,” millennials are more involved in their workplace, often finding their friends and love interest in that same workplace environment. But sadly, not many of them are lucky enough to say they like their job.

ADVERTISEMENT

So in order to find out whether learning to like your job is a solution, and when one should think of a change in career, we spoke with Christine Mitterbaeuer, a licensed and ICF-approved career coach and serial entrepreneur who shared some very useful insights.

“Being positive and content in life is a matter of which perspective you choose to adopt. In other words, how you choose to look at things in your life, such as your job, determines how you think and feel about it,” Christine said and added that you could have a great job and not appreciate it. This may happen “because your focus is on what’s not going well in your personal life.”

The career coach argues that similarly, you could have a boring or stressful job and be happy with it, because you’re looking at the bigger picture. “The bigger picture might tell you that this job is paying a salary with which you can feed your family, or pay for an education to get a better job afterwards. Knowing this and reminding yourself of this daily can help change your attitude to a positive one, and allow you to enjoy and appreciate your job a lot more.”

#6

Accurate

SoloMan93 Report

Add photo comments
POST
queeronabike avatar
Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If a job requires hours of your life to complete, it deserves a living wage. It shouldn't be that hard to understand.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#7

Funny-Workplace-Memes

Report

Add photo comments
POST
michfie avatar
Mitchell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am responsive but will always move the matter forward. What I hate is people who reply with a bullshit question or answer JUST to get it off their plate. Those people? I am super-responsive to. Back in your court, mate,

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

When asked how important it really is to genuinely like your work, Christine said that many people live happy lives despite slightly or even majorly disliking their jobs. “Why? Because their focus is on other positive elements in their lives. Perhaps their boring job allows them a lifestyle which is great, perhaps a lot of freedom to follow their hobbies and passions outside work. Or perhaps they focus on all the positive things they can afford because of having this job, which makes them and their families happier overall,” she explained.

#8

Reminder That You Can Say No

strawberryrubarbpie Report

Add photo comments
POST
queeronabike avatar
Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found that good bosses and even usually mediocre bosses will gladly accept a "no" if you give them an alternative. It's only bad bosses that completely shut down other options.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#10

Funny-Workplace-Memes

Report

Add photo comments
POST
troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Ok, let me put this 'highest priority' with the 63 other 'highest priorities' I got today."

View more commentsArrow down menu

For most people, the atmosphere and the people in the work environment influence their sense of wellbeing a great deal, the career coach argues. “This depends on how social vs. independent the role is, and how introvert vs. extrovert you as a person are. You could have a boring job but the nicest colleagues, and if socializing means a lot to your sense of wellbeing, then this atmosphere might be enough to make work bearable or even fun.”

ADVERTISEMENT

On the other hand, “you might also be the type who prefers quiet time so you can focus on your work, so in that case, the atmosphere might not mean a lot to you.” Christine concluded that “it’s important to know yourself so you can place a value on your colleagues and the atmosphere before you accept a new job.”

#11

Funny-Workplace-Memes

Report

#13

Funny-Workplace-Memes

alxxndrrra Report

Add photo comments
POST
lisettemccown_1 avatar
LittleLiz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah I much preferred spending 40 hours a week with people who made me feel angry and tired, having to tolerate abuse from people bigger than me, and not even getting to pick my own clothes

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Awesome, Thanks Everyone.

garnett_21 Report

Add photo comments
POST
leighc_ avatar
MyOpinionHasBeenServed
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL unless I'm directly spoken to that mute button stays on and I just click off right after. Thank goodness our meetings are not requiring us to facetime. I think they reduced the zoom meetings due to the old timers unable to pick up on how work it.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Truth!!

Pitiful-Garage2817 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jamesuthmann avatar
Khavrinen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Oh, and can you pick up a few of your co-workers who normally take the bus on your way in?"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Aaaand The Existential Dread Is Back.

chris_herd Report

Add photo comments
POST
leighc_ avatar
MyOpinionHasBeenServed
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been tempted to pull an Elle Woods and buy some colourful fabric and sheers, and cover the cubicles in colour. Ah, alas, the more personalization you deck out your work space the more the boss will think your willing to practically moving in to live at work.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#18

Lol It Really Be Like This

jamuirgfv Report

#19

Well If They Say To

ifuckedyomama2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jameskramer avatar
James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone in my old workplace did this on his 3rd day. He went to lunch and never came back :)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Funny-Workplace-Memes

coworkery Report

Add photo comments
POST
chuckycheezburger avatar
Chucky Cheezburger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the cost of insurance goes up 5 to 8 percent or more along with inflation so you bring home less than you did before the "raise".

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Everyone In This Sub

MarciaBelsky Report

Add photo comments
POST
warrierchithra avatar
Artsy Bookworm
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First day of preschool, three year old me thrown out of class because seeing my face every single three year old in the vicinity starts crying.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

Funny-Workplace-Memes

Report

Add photo comments
POST
firstnamelastname avatar
Firstname Lastname
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is the "customer just asked if it's free" laugh and the "we're totally making fun of the customer once they leave" laugh.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

We Were Better Off As Apes In The Trees

G0dleft Report

Add photo comments
POST
r_k_ avatar
R. K.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When did simple excretory and digestive body functions become offensive enough to get censured? No, we humans don't excrete, we p.s. on letters to the ocean :?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

Funny-Workplace-Memes

memes1 Report

#36

Funny-Workplace-Memes

grlsthinkimfuny Report

Add photo comments
POST
catea_paulina avatar
PauWow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont normally work out, but I'll make an effort to smack the person who'll tell me this nonsense. Jk, I'll probably just roll my eyes

View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

Funny-Workplace-Memes

Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#40

Funny-Workplace-Memes

corporatebish Report

Note: this post originally had 108 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.