Fails, Funny
ADVERTIsem*nT
Whether we like it or not — and let’s be honest, usually not — making mistakes at work is inevitable. No employee enjoys revealing to the entire world, not to mention their boss, how badly they failed. But it does happen, even to the people who just had one, an only, a single simple job on their to-do list and still managed to mess everything up.
Thanks to the 673k-member-strong corner of Reddit aptly named 'One Job,' we get to see a galore of cases when the inability to complete the simplest of tasks produced hilarious results. It’s an entertaining online community that’s on a mission to collect a side-splitting collection of pictures that brings occupational mishaps to broad daylight.
As people have been keeping themselves busy (or rather lazy), we at Bored Panda have scoured the page for the newest batch of pictures to share with you all. So continue scrolling for some of the funniest and hilariously miserable cases and upvote your favorite ones! And if you’re still screaming the classic "you had one job!" phrase, check out our earlier pieces on this feature right here, here and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Yes. Effort Definitely Involves No Effort
Final score:
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River Webb River Webb Community Member Follow
effort doesnt require effort? tf does it require then? laziness?
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#2
Odd Placement For That Particular Sign
Final score:
485points
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Panda Kicki Panda Kicki Community Member Follow
*Backs out slowly and leaves*
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Whether it’s recklessly painted road markings, signs put up in the most unfortunate places, or hilarious attempts at photoshop that leave everyone confused, it’s easy to laugh at these funny instances of occupational mishaps. But in reality, nobody likes to talk about failure at work, and especially have it posted on 'One Job' for thousands to see. Everyone knows it’s human to make mistakes. But for many, the idea of taking accountability and facing consequences for their actions often seems like an absolute nightmare. So what happens when you actually fail at work and how can you emerge from the situation with your head held up high? We asked the experts.
#3
The Last Batch Of Spanish Passports Have "PAO" Written As "PA0" And People Cannot Get On Planes Because Of It
Final score:
473points
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Quitethedilemma Quitethedilemma Community Member Follow
Probably should be higher
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#4
Lmaoo What Is This
Final score:
459points
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Lu Lu Community Member
I feel like you’re on the hook for hiring anyone who says they’re the “masters of light”
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Bored Panda reached out to Kyle Elliott, MPA, CHES, the founder and career coach behind Caffeinated Kyle who carries nearly a decade of expertise in Silicon Valley with one simple goal in mind — to help people find jobs they love. ADVERTIsem*nT Elliott told us that many of the professionals he speaks with are afraid to vocalize their failures, so the issue seems to be widespread across different industries. "One reason for the quietness around purported failures is that people feel shame when they mess up. This is especially true among people who tie much of their self-worth to their work or define themselves by their jobs," Elliott explained. "It can be helpful to process feelings of shame, embarrassment, or unworthiness that may arise when you make a mistake," Elliott added. "Also, take time to recognize the positive benefits and advantages of failing at work. Ask yourself if it was truly a failure or merely a learning experience that you can reflect upon."
#5
Julian Are You Ok?
Final score:
407points
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Autistic apricot Autistic apricot Community Member Follow
This had better not be c°
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#6
I Don’t Know, That Wall Might Be Up To Something
Final score:
399points
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Mihai Mara Mihai Mara Community Member Follow
That camera has seen too much and is taking a break from all the horrible things happening in the world
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Kristina Leonardi, a holistic career coach, personal growth expert, speaker, and author of Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul, explained that another reason why people hate talking about failure is because they equate it with being fired. "There’s a lot of fear around that," Leonardi said. "The type of failure they experienced may or may not be irreparable, but taking accountability and facing whatever consequences arise as a result is generally going to be the best course of action, and can even engender respect." The career coach advised to own up to your failures, "let the chips fall where they may" and learn the lesson the experience brings. ADVERTIsem*nT "It’s only a mistake if you don’t learn anything," Leonardi reminded us of the old adage. "If you do make a mistake, be sure that you forgive yourself after processing what happened and learning the lesson. It’s very important not to keep beating yourself up about it."
#7
Have A Happy Tuesday
Final score:
391points
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Nea Nea Community Member Follow
Tuesday Friday… tomayto, tomahto!
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#8
Drawing A Baby
Final score:
380points
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Mihai Mara Mihai Mara Community Member Follow
That white pale duck has seen things
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ADVERTIsem*nT
Sally Heady, a career coach and cognitive hypnotherapist based in the UK, let us in on the psychology of professional failures. According to her, making a mistake often makes us feel vulnerable as we attach meaning to our failure. "Instead of simply recognizing a human error or something that didn't work, we make it about us — that the failure is somehow a reflection of who we are and that we've fallen short of our own standards or the standards of others," Heady told Bored Panda. Not to mention, the judgment we humans place on failure makes it hard for us to accept it. Heady said that mistakes are often swept under the carpet, which creates the assumption that if someone fails: "a) they're incompetent and b) they don't deserve to be in the role they're in. Neither of these assumptions are necessarily true — everyone fails to some degree in their work and often those failures lead to important lessons resulting in greater success further down the line." ADVERTIsem*nT
#9
Looks Good From My House!
Final score:
379points
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Quitethedilemma Quitethedilemma Community Member Follow
I bet no-one's failed a field sobriety test here since they put in the new road 😆 😂
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#10
Photoshoping Can Be Hard
Final score:
377points
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Donkey boi Donkey boi Community Member Follow
'I only spread viruses through my right nostril!'
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#11
New Bathroom At Work
Final score:
368points
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Amused panda Amused panda Community Member Follow
Well, at least you'd know without trying the door that it was occupied.
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Unfortunately, some people become obsessed with avoiding failures at all costs. "That’s how you would define a perfectionist," Leonardi said. "There’s usually an underlying lack of self-worth or deep insecurity with themselves, so trying to control as much as they can is a way many people deal with a fear of not being loved or feeling safe or both." Cognitive hypnotherapist Heady also added that people who fear making mistakes often take a risk-averse approach to their careers. Sadly, this can result in "toxic over-working, burn-out or deep dissatisfaction in what they do because they haven't dared to take risks that would stretch and satisfy them."
#12
I'm Not Sure How To Get Passed The 1st Page Of This Survey
Final score:
350points
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STress STress Community Member Follow
English, por favor...
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#13
Something Tells Me A Floating Home Actually Needs To Float
Final score:
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Aaron Kara Aaron Kara Community Member Follow
"....it's supposed to do that"
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#14
Designed The Restaurant Menus, Boss
Final score:
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Mihai Mara Mihai Mara Community Member Follow
Weird name for a restaurant, "Logo Here", but if the food is great, that's all that matters :)))
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ADVERTIsem*nT
But when it comes to the urge to be flawless at work, it sometimes comes from the employer, not the employees themselves. "The avoidance of failure often arises in workplace cultures that don't allow space for people to make mistakes," Coach Elliott told us. "This can occur when leaders and managers create an environment that breeds perfectionism and doesn't allow people to innovate."
#15
An Apartment Installed New Siding And Choked Their AC Unit By Enclosing It
Final score:
307points
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Birdy Birdy Community Member Follow
Like a skin tag...
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#16
To Paint A Sign
Final score:
307points
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Amused panda Amused panda Community Member Follow
Disability spot designated specifically for a disabled couple. Disabled singles not permitted in this parking spot.
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#17
Ah Yes... That Is Definitely Japan
Final score:
304points
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Pink_Boba22 Pink_Boba22 Community Member Follow
Lolll that's Italy idiots
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Alarmingly, forbidding ourselves to experience failure can come at a great cost. It can create a massive amount of stress and anxiety, and even prevent us from learning what we’re capable of. "If we don't let ourselves fail, [...] we have less resilience because we're not flexing the muscle of picking ourselves up after the failure, reflecting and moving forward with greater wisdom," Heady explained. Working toward a level of perfection that, let’s face it, doesn’t exist, can even lead to burnout. And when failure inevitably arrives, Heady said "we'll take this to heart and see it as a huge personal setback which will slow us down and stop us from learning and growing from the failure. Failure really is a great teacher, even though it's not much fun to go through." ADVERTIsem*nT
#18
Doesn't Look Optional To Me
Final score:
297points
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STress STress Community Member Follow
Just write in "optional"...
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#19
“Hung Up The Flags Boss”
Final score:
295points
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Raven Sheridan Raven Sheridan Community Member Follow
Raising a flag upside down is the international symbol for distress. Perhaps the staff of McDonald's is being held hostage? 🤔
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#20
Ah Yeah Shcool
Final score:
294points
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James016 James016 Community Member Follow
Sean Connery Primary Shcool
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Meanwhile, Elliot argues that if someone has indeed been able to avoid mistakes at work, then they’re likely to have been playing it too safe. "Failure is inevitable at work, particularly as you progress through your career. Learning how to quickly rebound from your mistakes will set you up for a successful career." Elliot advised employees everywhere to lean into failure. "But don't stop there. Take it a step further and make a habit of failing. You might even find it helpful to set a goal of failing X times per week or month in order to build up your resiliency." "Another alternative is you are actually making mistakes because everyone makes mistakes, but colleagues don't feel comfortable confronting you about them. Be open to feedback and growth," Elliot added.
#21
Looks Like Tacobell Couldn’t Find The Inside Of A Taco
Final score:
292points
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Autistic apricot Autistic apricot Community Member Follow
Did you ask for it on the side
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#22
Did They Really Not Think Before They Wrote That Down?
Final score:
290points
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$cagsy $cagsy Community Member Follow
Next week: How to land your dream girl for gay men.
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#23
‘Anti-Graffiti’, Huh? (Waterloo Bridge)
Final score:
277points
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James016 James016 Community Member Follow
They mean the sign itself, not the wall
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When facing failure, Heady revealed that her rule of thumb is this: there's no failure, only feedback. "Failure is simply an indication that something isn't working — when you have a more inquisitive approach to failure you can then take action to improve and work on the things that need changing." "A famous example of this is Thomas Edison, the inventor of the lightbulb, who made thousands of unsuccessful attempts before succeeding. When he was asked about this, he said 'Results! Why man, I have gotten lots of results! I know several thousand things that won't work!'" the coach concluded.
#24
Teaching Shapes To Kids
Final score:
276points
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Katie Lutesinger Katie Lutesinger Community Member Follow
"No, this is Patrick."
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See Also on Bored Panda
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#25
Kit Kat Without The Wafer
Final score:
274points
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Pink_Boba22 Pink_Boba22 Community Member Follow
'I see this as an absolute win'
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#26
Since 14 Together 20 / Together Since 1420
Final score:
272points
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Just a Purpler Just a Purpler Community Member Follow
It also kinda makes him look like a pedophile do you not think XD
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#27
When I Tried To Cut The Cheese
Final score:
270points
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Mihai Mara Mihai Mara Community Member Follow
Cheese 1 - knife 0
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#28
I Have The Hypothesis That They Were Wrong
Final score:
269points
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T T Community Member Follow
thanks for the red circle btw, really needed to see what needs to be seen
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#29
Took Me A While To Figure This Out. It's An Upside Down Ear
Final score:
267points
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Dianellian Dianellian Community Member Follow
No. That’s a saggy bum crack. Cmon! You thought it too.
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#30
A Solar-Powered Parking Meter... Under A Tree
Final score:
267points
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troufaki13 troufaki13 Community Member Follow
It's hiding because it doesn't want to work and I totally relate...
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#31
Ordered A Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger Without Tomato. Got Only Tomato
Final score:
262points
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Autistic apricot Autistic apricot Community Member Follow
That looks like pepperoni
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#32
Somebody Forgot To Add The Chips Before Baking
Final score:
250points
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Clearly sunny Clearly sunny Community Member
Why don't they just melt the choc and dip half the cookie in it!
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#33
Bought A Melon, Received A Lemon
Final score:
242points
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Sam Juan Sam Juan Community Member Follow
Could've been worse. What if you ordered Melon Husks and gotten Elon Musk instead?
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#34
Wait I Remember That Character, It's Super-Man!
Final score:
235points
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Lispel- Lotte Lispel- Lotte Community Member Follow
My first thought looking at the picture was: "something is wrong with these peanuts"
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See Also on Bored Panda
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#35
Guy Writes "Water Million" Then Translates It To Arabic
Final score:
216points
POST
Birdy Birdy Community Member Follow
Yep...the rise in cost of living will do that.
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#36
The Roundest Table I Ever Did See
Final score:
215points
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Donkey boi Donkey boi Community Member Follow
I guess you technically can go (a)round it!
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#37
Dude Sneaks Scissors On To Plane But Gets Water Bottle Confiscated By TSA
Final score:
209points
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Autistic apricot Autistic apricot Community Member Follow
The persons face
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#38
All Drains In My School Are Above Floor Level
Final score:
206points
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Headless Roach Headless Roach Community Member
Physics is tough
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#39
Just Installed The Buttons Boss
Final score:
195points
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Robert T Robert T Community Member Follow
I'm more worried by the the "no lift" sign. If there is no lift, what do the buttons do? Heaven and Hell?
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#40
Placed The No Parking Sign, Boss
Final score:
181points
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Amused panda Amused panda Community Member Follow
Council worker: Hi, I'm calling to update you about your report that people keep parking their cars on the verge directly in front of your property causing an obstruction. We've investigated and we are going to install signage that should prevent any vehicles parking here.
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Ieva is a writer at Bored Panda who graduated in Scandinavian studies from Vilnius University. After learning the Swedish language and getting completely lost in the world of Scandinavian mythology, she figured out that translating and writing is what she's passionate about. When not writing, Ieva enjoys making jewelry, going on hikes, reading and drinking coffee.
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TrickQuestion TrickQuestion Community Member Follow
Found this in the wild. The image is not inverted. Decided to pick it up for a lark 315523981_...4f4106.jpg
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Dillon Brown Dillon Brown Community Member Follow
Replying so people can see the image...
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VonBlade VonBlade Community Member Follow
Many of these are "they don't pay me enough", but that first one pains everybody who's worked anywhere.
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CrazyCatLady CrazyCatLady Community Member Follow
Which one is that? The order changes.
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Caroline Caroline Community Member Follow
On one of my local roads there's a sign that's upside down. I noticed it a couple of months ago and it's still upside down. Not sure if it was there even before I saw it. I would love to take a pic but it's on a busy road and I don't want to get ran over lol
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TrickQuestion TrickQuestion Community Member Follow
Found this in the wild. The image is not inverted. Decided to pick it up for a lark 315523981_...4f4106.jpg
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Dillon Brown Dillon Brown Community Member Follow
Replying so people can see the image...
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VonBlade VonBlade Community Member Follow
Many of these are "they don't pay me enough", but that first one pains everybody who's worked anywhere.
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CrazyCatLady CrazyCatLady Community Member Follow
Which one is that? The order changes.
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Caroline Caroline Community Member Follow
On one of my local roads there's a sign that's upside down. I noticed it a couple of months ago and it's still upside down. Not sure if it was there even before I saw it. I would love to take a pic but it's on a busy road and I don't want to get ran over lol
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