A mark of a good employee is that they're often willing to do more than listed in their job description. Sadly, not every worker feels so motivated. According to a poll Gallup conducted last year, 68% of the workforce might be phoning it in, as only 32% feel fully engaged at work.
Although probably infuriating to their bosses, these workers' minimum efforts often yield some pretty hilarious results. That's where the "I Did The Job, Boss" subreddit comes in. They collect all sorts of jobs done poorly, whether by accident or on purpose. If you ever feel you're not pulling your weight at work, check these out and you'll probably feel much better.
#1 Write A Dictionary Definition For Horse
Image credits: Factsofw0rld
#2 Welder Took The Instructions Seriously
Image credits: clinter
#3 I Launched The Update Boss
Image credits: hamzakharbout233
Is there a new type of pandemic in the workplace? People seem to be disengaged and unmotivated in their jobs, others are "quiet quitting" and doing the bare minimum to barely scrape by and not get fired, and more and more people are directing their attention, time, and money to master their work-life balance.
In their 2024 State of the Global Workplace report, Gallup estimates that employee disengagement cost the global economy around $8.9 trillion in GDP in 2023. They report that 23% of employees felt actively engaged in the workplace, which is an all-time high (in 2009 the percentage of engaged employees was merely 12%).
#4 I Wrote The Article, Boss
Image credits: CinemaslaveJoe
#5 Signs Up Boss
Image credits: Six_Rabbit
#6 Ummm
Image credits: earthlingofficial
At the same time, employee well-being declined, as only 34% of employees reported thriving in their workplace. However, just like with employee engagement, this number remains at a steady high for the last five or so years. So, why are more and more people "quiet quitting" or thinking about leaving their jobs?
As Gallup suggests, the mental well-being of employees is what stagnates motivation and daily productivity. According to their research, daily stress is still higher than the pre-pandemic average, and 20% of employees reported experiencing significant loneliness. As people are less happy in general, they're less likely to feel motivated in the workplace.
#7 Add A Title
Image credits: bloody_bandaids
#8 Painted The Truck, Boss
Image credits: CinemaslaveJoe
#9 I For Lady B-I-Rd
Image credits: pouldycheed
We sometimes think that an unmotivated worker is a bad worker. But good workers can become unmotivated, too. That's why companies spend thousands of dollars to keep the talent they have happy with various perks, bonuses, and other incentives. According to Indeed, there are two types of motivation in the workplace: one that comes from the outside, and another, from the inside.
#10 He Did The Job
Image credits: reddit.com
#11 I See You
Image credits: IulianRL
#12 I Put Up The Tiles, Boss
Image credits: CinemaslaveJoe
Cash bonuses, office snacks, and more vacation days are a great way to motivate your employees, but they might not work with those who crave intrinsic motivation. Other workers put more effort and are willing to go above and beyond when they find meaning and purpose in their work.
#13 An Appropriate Subtitle
Image credits: cribbageluna18
#14 Added The Illustration To The Sign, Boss
Image credits: Few-Ad2663
#15 A New Guy Was Asked To Make Sure Printer Has Paper
Image credits: WolfyProd
Some studies also suggest that intrinsic motivation gets employees to be six times more motivated than extrinsic motivation. Jim Barnett writes for Forbes that using external awards only can sometimes feel like companies are trying to control their employees. "Instead of feeling excited and challenged to exceed a target, we sometimes see people hit a goal and go no further," he notes.
#16 I Finished The Club's Toilet Room Boss
Image credits: PorkyPain
#17 Changed The Colours On The Poster Boss
Image credits: muzicoholicated
#18 I Made The Bicycle Lane Boss
Image credits: Somm1k
It also matters what kind of boss we have. Leadership coach Vicki Kampmeier has five rules that managers should follow to motivate their employees. First, she says, bosses need to ask their workers for feedback: giving and receiving it should be the priority for any good boss.
#19 Found This Abomination To Disability
Image credits: 1ce_W01f
#20 Received An Upwaprd Package
Image credits: nuancedaf
#21 Powerwashed The Stairs, Boss
Image credits: Dutchmon64
Second, employees should be allowed to contribute to their individual and the company's goals. "When employees feel like they're part of that conversation, they're willing to put in the extra effort," Kampmeier explains. These two rules go in hand with the third one: the boss has to show employees they care: listening to their feedback, being flexible with their demands, and allowing them to make decisions.
#22 When Your Water Heater Becomes The Ground Path For Your House's Electricity
Image credits: RocketsandBeer
#23 This F*** Motivational Quote
Image credits: JaniPratt
#24 Don’t Go Swimming In Cigarettes
Image credits: Few-Ad2663
Employees should also know what's happening in the company they work at. When a worker knows more about the big (or small) operation that they're a part of, they become more invested in it. Hence, they want to do a better job and strive for the company's success. "The more uncertainty [employees] feel, the less motivated they are," Kampmeier explains.
#25 The Steps Are Complete!
Image credits: wes7946
#26 What Do You Mean By "This Is A Historical Monument"?
Image credits: reddit.com
#27 I Painted The Mercedes, Boss!
Image credits: Immaloner
Finally, a good boss should know a thing or two about the people they manage. That's not to say that they should pry or be all up in their employees' personal business, but things such as remembering birthdays and carrying out personality assessment tests show the workers that the boss is making an effort to care about them. What's more, as Kampmeier says, leaders can leverage this for growth, motivation, and alignment.
#28 I Marked The Gas Lines Boss
Image credits: heartinnyc
#29 Did It Boss
Image credits: soph_i_e
#30 Cant Be Asked
Image credits: Memesallthewayboii
What do you think about people doing the bare minimum at work, Pandas? Have you ever had a coworker who could possibly make it onto our list? Share your stories with us in the comments! And if you want to see more failed attempts at a good job, check out our previous article about the "I Did The Job, Boss" subreddit right here!
#31 Homeowner: "I Absolutely Need This Faucet!"
Image credits: wes7946
#32 Fence Built Around A Rock In Costco Parking Lot
Image credits: clinter
#33 It Is Done
Image credits: Palette300
#34 Delivered Your Badminton Racket “Safely” Boss
Image credits: adsr8
#35 Nice
Image credits: my_wifes_ass
