These Funny Notes Show the Lighter Side of Office Life
Office life is often mundane, with colleagues assembling in a bland sea of cubicles to get work done. Perhaps it's this blandness that leads itself to the occasional example of unexpected genius.
From the passive-aggressive to the witty to the plain confusing, we've assembled some of the funniest office notes from across the internet. If inspiration strikes, perhaps you can try out a few of these on your fellow cubicle dwellers.
Passive aggressive done right
On one hand, no one wants anything to smell like day-old ketchup. On the other hand, this note is (self-admittedly) pretty passive aggressive.
This serves as a lesson that if someone wants to be petty and passive aggressive, it's always possible to up the ante.
It's a fair point
Even if the initial request to keep the door closed was a reasonable one, it pretty much undoes its point with the use of Comic Sans.
By now, everyone should know that Comic Sans should only ever be used in jest, as it's not a serious font.
No need to be sacarstic
The typo on this sign made this such an easy layup that it's almost disappointing that the note-maker didn't throw a little more shade.
Then again, this almost seems like the typo was done intentionally, just to give coworkers an easy chance to dunk on it.
Unlucky in love
If you're going to put up a reminder, even a gentle one, it's important to recognize that your colleagues will absolutely find a way to tear it apart.
Is the note reasonable? Yes. Was it worded in a way that made for an easy joke? Also yes.
An oldie but a goodie
Printers are pretty much destined to fail, and any well-used office printer is bound to contain a few quirks.
So if your office has a printer, feel free to steal this sign idea. It'll almost definitely go over well.
Your mug isn't that special
It must be frustrating to have coworkers touching your extra-special reindeer mug, so perhaps the initial sign is justified.
That said, it's just a mug. If it's so special, why not (sarcastically) give it the praise it apparently deserves?
Getting a little too deep
The initial sign is intriguing enough - is it put there so workers won't get too emotionally attached to it?
But the Post-It note brings this into full existential dread territory by conveying something that we all know, but try to ignore.
Lost pen notice
It seems a little bit unhinged to put up a notice about a lost pen (I mean, just grab a new Bic).
With that in mind, responding to the notice with a tongue-in-cheek ransom note seems fairly appropriate.
It looks clean
The sink might be full of dishes, but if someone places an image of a clean sink on top, doesn't that mean the sink is clean?
No. No, it absolutely does not - but it's hard not to appreciate the creativity.
One of these things is not like the others
It's hard to resist the siren song of a Red Bull in the middle of a tiring workday, and one person evidently gave into temptation.
While they didn't replace the can exactly, they at least made sure it wouldn't leave an empty space.
Things got out of control
This photo has a bit of a backstory: apparently, office cleaners neglected to pick up a dead cricket.
From there, the dead cricket turned into a full-blown memorial, that almost looks more earnest than in jest.
Entitled milk
When milk spoils, it means it's no longer safe to drink. But what does it really mean when milk goes bad?
Well, it doesn't mean this, that's for sure - but it's still a decent little gag.
Something's going on here
An office fridge would hardly be an office fridge without a note on it complaining about something.
But four notes? There's clearly a serial food thief working among those cubicles.
High opinion of themselves
If your boss likes you enough, you might get a cake or some other kind of send-off gift on your last day in the office.
Of course, the true power move is to buy yourself a cake, and decorate it with a message showing just how much you matter.
Really?
Printers work on their own schedule, and there's little we can do to speed up the process if they're being temperamental.
This jokey (well, it seems like a joke) note is a reminder that everyone just needs to be patient.
What spooked it?
If a door will trigger an alarm, putting up a "door is alarmed" sign seems to convey the message, right?
Well, yes - but on the other hand, it also indicates that something put a deep sense of fear into said door.
Don't scare the programmers
Programmers aren't fish in an aquarium, and it's probably fine to tap the glass.
Of course, if you've worked in a tech-heavy office, you already know that it's a terrible idea to run afoul of anyone who handles IT stuff.
It belongs in a museum
This office prominently features an extremely antiquated piece of technology: a landline phone that nobody uses.
Given its age and historical significance, one smart-aleck employee put up a sign to make it look like a museum piece.
Is there anybody in there?
Whoever wrote these notes either desperately needs to make contact, or is just being a troll.
Of course, if you put up a sign on your door, don't be surprised when people take it a little too literally.
Working with editors
This note is more than a little bit hostile, but it doesn't have any egregious errors on it at first glance.
The fact that it was placed in an office that's full of editors should help explain why its grammar has been mercilessly critiqued.
Just eat the whole thing
When there are treats in the office, it can be aggravating when everyone tries to grab just a segment of each treat rather than grabbing a whole serving size.
This office note conveys things pretty succinctly, and the (plastic) knife serves as an implied threat.
We had house elves?
Office cleaning crews are miracle workers: they come in after everyone's left, and clean everything up for the next day.
Are these cleaning crews actually house elves? Maybe, maybe not - but if they're on strike, workers will have to handle things themselves.
Bringer of bad news
This note conveys news that everybody needs to know, even if they don't really want to hear it.
At least Flavio doesn't seem like he's cracking the whip. In fact, the tone of the note is more apologetic than anything.
What are these thick books?
If you're of a certain age, you'll know what phone books and white pages are. But in the 21st century, these things are just heavy doorstops.
After the fresh delivery of a bunch of phonebooks that'll immediately be thrown into the recycling bin, one employee decided to poke fun at the very concept.
A fun prank
One of the best, most simple pranks you can pull on someone is to tell them that something is voice-activated, even when it isn't.
This is the idea here, where a prankster put this note on the office coffee machine before anyone had a chance to see how it actually worked.
Lesson learned
The person who posted this noted that their office candy guy put this tough-but-fair note on the gumball container.
Really, we're more hung up on the fact that this office apparently has a candy guy.
It's just like Reddit
The "Who's Awesome?" sign was placed above a urinal in the office washroom, and it unexpectedly led to a lively conversation.
These coworkers are so used to online forums that they even followed proper protocol for nesting comment replies.
Devastating words
The "Love yourself!" note was a passive-aggressive way for an employee to throw shade on their colleague, which doesn't seem very nice.
At least the recipient was more than prepared for a comeback, which they provided in brutal fashion.
Please, Logan
On one hand, it would be easy to go to HR if your employee gave you a note about your love life.
On the other, this seems like something that was written earnestly, because perhaps Logan should maybe rein it in a tad.
Make dyslexicade?
Everyone knows the saying about making lemonade when life gives you lemons.
This sign is a pun, sure, but it also provides some actionable advice. For instance, if you're reading 'lemons' as 'melons,' well, there's a name for that condition.
Dan Gray
