Let’s be honest—heading to work day in, day out can sometimes feel like stepping into a routine that’s a bit too predictable, or even miserable. Unless, of course, you’re blessed with colleagues who can channel their inner Jim Halpert and liven things up with an innocent prank or a clever joke!
At Bored Panda, we’re all about spreading smiles at the office. It’s what keeps us going and makes each day more exciting. So, to share the joy, we’ve handpicked some awesome pics of people who love to make their coworkers laugh—and probably deserve a raise for it. Check them out below and don’t forget to upvote your favorites!
#1 4 Years Of Sobriety! My Coworkers Got Me “Clean” Stuff
Image credits: Better_Draft_1270
It turns out, as an adult, finding moments of fun amidst all your responsibilities is truly a luxury. Studies show that while children laugh around 400 times a day, adults only do it 15 times on average.
And it’s no wonder—according to Gallup, more than 60% of people at work feel disengaged and lack inspiration to do more than the bare minimum. Only a fraction, around 30%, say they feel genuinely fulfilled both in their personal and professional lives.
#2 I Asked My Coworkers Not To Put Huge Decorations On My Desk
My workplace is the kind to bubble wrap your entire desk and fill your cubicle with balloons for your birthday. I asked them to keep it low-key. The picture shows a shelf on my desk.
Image credits: jester_kat
#3 My Workplace Asked Us To Recreate Famous Works Of Art Using Only What We Had At Home. I Think I Nailed It
Image credits: lexifers516
Humor is the secret ingredient that makes employees feel consistently happier. It’s because laughter actually lowers stress hormones like cortisol, creating a relaxed atmosphere that encourages collaboration and productivity. Daniel Sgroi, an economics professor at the University of Warwick, notes that “it’s almost like being happy generates more time” to accomplish work tasks.
#4 I Am Being Forced To Compete In An Office Fitbit Step Challenge
Image credits: ikareaboutyou
#5 Just Let This Man Do His Job
Image credits: MakeMeFamous7
Research also shows that office jokesters are perceived as more confident and capable by their coworkers. Their ability to lighten the mood and connect with others suggests strong social skills, which are often admired in the workplace.
According to Stanford experts Naomi Bagdonas and Jennifer Aaker, humor is crucial for effective leadership. “We can do serious things without taking ourselves too seriously. And in fact, often we can do them better and more fashionably,” Bagdonas explains.
#6 Just Started At A New Shop And This Work Of Art Was Left Above My New Workstation
Image credits: rwmurphy10
#7 My Coworker Took Customers' Orders Wearing A Spider-Man Mask To Brighten The Days Of People In The Drive-Thru
He had gotten extremely excited when a kid in the backseat of a car waved at him.
Image credits: crustytoegaming
#8 I Asked My Boss If We Could Pose With (Some) Of Our Prop Money At The End Of The Day. He Insisted We Use All Of It
Image credits: lhbruen
The Stanford duo highlights that being able to share a laugh with the people you see at work every day is what shifts your relationships from “transactional to human”. For those who feel like they’re just a replaceable part in a big system, this can make a significant difference.
#9 The System Is Rigged At My Job. She Wins Every Month
Image credits: TheCraftypickle
#10 Workplace Safety
Image credits: lucidviolet
#11 Opened The Hood And Found My Coworker Trying To Scare Me
Image credits: Jumpy_Part_8513
However, while a harmless prank can brighten anyone’s day, making insensitive remarks can quickly turn the workplace toxic. Bagdonas and Aaker insist, “It’s not about you.”
“Don’t ask, will this make me sound funny? Instead, ask how will this make other people feel, which also means never punching down,” Aaker said.
#12 Power Move
Image credits: midget_jazz
#13 Banner For A Coworker Whose Last Day Is Today
Image credits: Mercury90210
#14 My Coworker And I Have Been Putting Little Hats On The Office Cat
Image credits: Trick-Cup2912
A good way to tell if you’re crossing the line with your coworkers is if you constantly have to explain that whatever you say is “just a joke”. This is often just an excuse to be mean, and instead of finding you witty, your colleagues might think, “Oh god, I can’t believe you just said that.”
#15 I Love Her Fluffy Legs
Image credits: PigeonMasha_
#16 Workplace Safety
Image credits: LogicBomb76
#17 When You And Your Coworker Accidentally Twin Outfits. I Look Like His Mini-Me. I Should Have Grown Out My Mustache
Image credits: BabyDaredevil
Ronald E. Riggio, professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology at Claremont McKenna College, believes you can keep your interactions positive and lighthearted by bonding over shared experiences with your coworkers.
For example, you can start by making casual observations about common things you all deal with and then point out something amusing or unusual. Like, when talking about a time you had to work from home, you might joke about missing the days when you could wear pajama pants instead of a suit.
#18 My Friend/Coworker Quit To Go Back To School And I Feel A Way About It
Image credits: Resident-Sherbert-63
#19 My Boss Offered Me $300 To Shave My Mustache, So I Framed It For Him
Image credits: chattgraham
#20 Coworker Has A Tabasco Holster That His Wife Gave Him. He Brings It To Lunch Every Day
Image credits: EndGuy555
Remember that you don’t have to be the office comedian round-the-clock or make a big show of it. There are plenty of subtle ways to leave a lasting impression.
Bagdonas and Aaker suggest adding a fun twist to your email signature. You could sign off with something like “Yours, heavily caffeinated” or “Still wondering who let the dogs out” if someone's pet unexpectedly interrupts your team’s Zoom call.
#21 The One Time I Wore My Halloween Costume To Work
Image credits: steelystan
#22 I Put A Couple Of Layers Of Boot Polish On One Of My Coworker's Boots Every Day He Was On Vacation... One Of His Boots
Image credits: sam_neil
#23 How My Coworker Decorated Her Car For Halloween
Image credits: Franks-gun-2006
You can also experiment with developing your distinct humor style. Bagdonas and Aaker outline four types you can focus on to find what suits you best: The Stand-Up, bold and daring, unafraid to stand out; The Sweetheart, sincere and likes to lighten the mood; The Sniper, edgy and sarcastic; or The Magnet, expressive and charismatic.
#24 Brilliant
Image credits: mixbecca
#25 A German, Frida And Ruth Bader Ginsburg Walk Into A Conference Room
Image credits: edisongiang
#26 Employee Of The Month Material
Image credits: misslattesart
And if you learn to understand yourself better, it becomes easier to know which jokes to avoid. For instance, Sweethearts and Magnets should be careful not to indulge too much in self-deprecation, as it could hurt their reputation. At the same time, Stand-ups and Snipers need to make sure they don’t offend or isolate others.
#27 My Doctor's Office Is In The Holiday Spirit
Image credits: geoffe
#28 One Of Our Lunch Ladies Passed And Her Staff Set This Skeleton Up In Her Honor
Image credits: EeyoreTheSadDonkey
#29 My Best April Fools' Prank: I Put This In The Office Bathroom With Ketchup Inside
Image credits: Sosowski
So why not tap into your funny bone and put yourself out there? You might just make your office a much happier place for both you and your coworkers!
#30 Only Gold And Swedish Fish Are Acceptable In The Workplace
Image credits: shadimusa
#31 I Make These And Put This One Up For My Coworkers
Image credits: Arcempire
#32 The People At My Workplace Are Getting Salty About Their Water Fountain Rules
Image credits: SouthernAero
#33 My Workplace Has A Sense Of Humor. Poor Nathan
Image credits: SuperPotatoThrow
#34 My Coworker Was Complaining About Losing His Headphones. I Think I Found Them
Image credits: GroundbreakingSuit74
#35 My Coworker Makes Signs For The Service Desk With Rotating Topics
Image credits: Substantial_Date_235
#36 Husband’s Coworkers Pulled This Prank On Their Manager
Image credits: sp00kyscary
#37 Found At Work
Image credits: tonyle94
#38 Someone Put This Up In The Ladies' Room At Work
Image credits: Frago242
#39 Coworker Got Tired Of People Taking His Cart While He Was At Lunch
Image credits: Jasperrr___
#40 One Of The Most Successful Pranks We Pulled Off In Our Workplace
Image credits: justinsmama
#41 You Cannot Be Serious
Image credits: StevenCheah
#42 Brought A Houseplant To The Office And Named It After A Coworker. They Struck Back And Brought In A Friend For It
Image credits: darkpollopesca
#43 We Are Like A Family Up There And We Are Really Upset She Is Leaving. She Knows We Love Her
Image credits: Miriam2626
#44 Coworker Left Her Phone Unattended Again
Image credits: wabispecial
#45 I Told My Coworkers I Had Never Tasted A Pickle. The Next Week
Image credits: warriorprincess
#46 Occasionally I Wear My T-Rex Costume To Work To Bring My Coworkers Some Joy
Image credits: ChiaEFX
#47 I'm A Security Guard Just Doing My Rounds, Walked Into The Conference Room And Saw This
Image credits: BatHulkSmash
#48 One Of My Coworkers Set This Background Weeks Ago And It Still Hasn't Been Changed
Image credits: Summer Leppanen
#49 Found This In The Bathroom At A Former Workplace. Wasn’t Even Mad Then, Because The Chuckle Made My Day
Image credits: Charitard123
#50 A Friend's Coworker Likes To Take Stealth Box Naps At Work
Image credits: QueenHalloween
