“From the Absurd to the Outrageous: The 60 Most Unforgettable ‘What Were They Thinking?’ Moments in the Workplace!”
Have you ever witnessed something so absurd at work that it made you question if you accidentally walked onto a sitcom set? Professionalism in the workplace can sometimes feel as clear as mud. Sure, we all know there are lines we shouldn’t cross—unless, of course, you’re working in a wild and wacky environment where the rules seem to envision a sitcom-like vibe! From seriously tone-deaf comments to utterly baffling HR decisions, the context of what’s “professional” can swing like a pendulum depending on your office culture. Recently, folks have shared some jaw-dropping experiences on social media about their workplaces, and let’s just say, some of them will leave you aghast! In this article, we’ll dive into jaw-dropping accounts of what happens behind closed doors at the office, along with expert advice on maintaining your sanity amid the chaos. Curious? You won’t want to miss what’s coming next! LEARN MORE.
It’s generally expected that we maintain a certain level of professionalism at work. While this varies from industry to industry and company to company, there are behaviors and actions that are deemed appropriate. And others that definitely aren’t. Professionalism does not mean wearing a suit or carrying a briefcase. It’s about the way you conduct yourself. A rock musician might be able to get away with more than an attorney. Both on and off the job. But regardless of your industry or title, being professional can help you succeed in your career while being unprofessional could have a long-lasting impact on your reputation and future.
Someone recently asked, “What’s the most unprofessional thing you’ve seen at work?” and people didn’t hold back. From colleagues freeing the nipple to bosses being tone-deaf about the Los Angeles fires and a woman asking her male coworkers to promote her OnlyFans page, it would seem there’s a lot going on behind the closed doors of companies. Bored Panda has put together a list of the craziest answers. Don’t forget to upvote your favorites, and feel free to share your own accounts of unprofessional behavior in the comments below.
We also spoke to two experts about how to deal with questionable behavior in the workplace. Shep Hyken is an industry leader in customer service and customer experience, an award-winning keynote speaker, and a best-selling author. Eva Chan is a career expert for the online career resources platform Resume Genius. You’ll find their interesting input between the images as you’re scrolling.
My manager calling a fake team meeting to discuss convincing me to date the only other Black person in the office.
“There is a big difference between looking professional and acting professional,” he tells Bored Panda during our interview. “Wearing a suit and tie or ‘formal business attire’ is just part of the package. While it’s good for a first impression, employees and customers won’t love you because you look professional. They love you and want to do business or work with you because you are professional. You treat others with respect, honor commitments, are honest, responsive, and do what you say you will do without blaming others.”
Resume Genius‘ career expert, Eva Chan agrees. “How you carry yourself matters far more than what you wear,” says Chan. “A sharp suit might give the impression of professionalism, but real professionalism runs deeper — it’s how you act and conduct yourself at work. The way you treat colleagues and communicate in a workplace setting all count more than a blazer and a carefully curated Zoom background. At its core, professionalism is just being a decent human at work: respecting people’s time, pulling your weight, and handling yourself with integrity.”
Had a supervisor twice my age at my first job (i was 16) throw metal equipment at me while TRAINING me for not moving “fast enough”. Also had an assistant manager (also almost twice my age) at a wireless store i worked at steal $4000 from the store (for dr*g money) in only MY deposits and tried to frame me. Cameras proved her wrong but…yeah. pretty unprofessional.
Being yelled at as a new employee for not being trained on something. Like homie YOU GUYS are the one training me.
