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They say that if you choose a job you love, you will never work a day in your life. However, they also say that you can have too much of a good thing, and I think these two sayings perfectly explain the burden of having to work for the rest of our lives. While we may enjoy what we do for a paycheck, having to do it for a third of our existence earns us the right to vent about it when we get tired or colleagues test our patience once in a while. 

A great way to pour out work-related frustrations is through memes, which we’re featuring today for those who are forced to devote themselves to capitalism and be their own sugar mamas. Collected by the Funny Work Memes Facebook page, these memes are definitely ones you’ll be glad to circle back to.

While you're scrolling through, don't forget to check out a conversation with an organizational well-being consultant Sandy Goel, New York City’s leading burnout expert and host of the Fried – The Burnout Podcast, Caitlin Donovan, and workplace expert and the author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work, Simone Stolzoff, who kindly agreed to share a few tips on how people can find more enjoyment in their work.

#1

Text on a red background highlighting the irony of companies spending on hires who soon leave, while neglecting loyal employees' raises.

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Jrog
Community Member
1 month ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know of a company which spent over 50k€ in headhunting, went through half a dozen candidates over the span of 18 months and lost a major client in the process, only because a key employee was promised a 3k € bonus that the company didn't feel like paying after the job was delivered, so he left.

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    #3

    A funny meme about work goals highlighting the irony of job expectations and personal fulfillment.

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    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The company I work for currently does '90 day goals' as well as a 1% better everyday policy. I just want to get through the day.

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    Even though the saying goes, 'Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life,' workplace well-being experts believe that it's not really realistic to love your job every single day.

    "I think the notion that a job should always be a dream, or always be perfect, or always be something that you love every day is a recipe for disappointment," said workplace expert and the author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work, Simone Stolzoff, to Bored Panda.

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    "Even in the most fulfilling or passionate jobs, there is a level of tedium or monotony that is often ignored. And when you're expecting your job always to be a source of love, it can create a lot of room to be disappointed."

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    #4

    Funny work meme about living paycheck to paycheck, now living direct deposit to direct deposit.

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    BeesEelsAndPups
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    LOL!!! This is like that (all too true) joke "When I was young I was poor, but now through years of hard work I am no longer young"

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    #5

    Man pointing at a board with text "Be careful who you vent to" in a work meme, adding humor to workplace stress.

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    Paul C.
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminded of a song, from back in the day, Back Stabbers, by the O'Jays.

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    #6

    Cartoon character presenting a funny work meme about clocking in and commutes on a screen.

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    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At least over here (France) it you are injured on your way to or from work (car accident or whatever) it is considered a workplace accident.

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    "A more realistic expectation is to have more good days than bad (kind of like hair days!)," noted organizational well-being consultant Sandy Goel. "If you dread going to work, that is not a good sign. If you look forward to seeing people you work with and projects you are contributing to and feel valued for the work you do, those are positive signs."

    "It is not realistic to love your job every day," agreed New York City’s leading burnout expert and host of the Fried – The Burnout Podcast, Caitlin Donovan. "What has been found as more important is having at least one person at work (or in your community if you work alone) that you feel has your back—a close friend. This is especially true for remote jobs," she said.

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    #8

    Text meme about adulthood dilemmas, highlighting the struggle of making appointments with full-time work hours.

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    DowntownStevieB
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Seriously. This is how companies squeeze your vacation time/sick time out so you can't use it for you time.

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    #9

    A funny work meme about money and happiness, highlighting generational differences and affordability struggles.

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    Marianne
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That phrase means that money can't buy you health, love and friends. It never meant that you should be content while being poor.

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    The overall view of employees' satisfaction with work seems to be quite positive, as 65% of working people around the world are happy with their jobs, while only 17% report that they're not. Donovan says that those who have less joyful experiences with their jobs indicate a lack of autonomy, community, fairness, praise, and recognition and high job strain or values that don't align with the company as the most frequent reasons for it.

    #10

    Funny work meme about paying bills to gauge happiness after getting paid.

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    Just Another Karen
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    how happy to actually be: $7.82 in the account on the 7th of the month

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    #12

    Funny work meme of a big plane labeled "The project" and a small bike labeled "The office laptop."

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    Mike F
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So true! We had software optimized for Win 10 and the available laptops was running 8.1.

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    "There's a whole spectrum of reasons why you can be unhappy with your job. I think one of the big ones, though, is when people have really high expectations about what a job can deliver, when they expect their job to not just be a source of economic fulfillment, but also personal fulfillment and community and identity," Stolzoff explained.

    "When they're expecting every single task to be personally fulfilling, it can be a recipe for unhappiness. And so, rather than thinking about our jobs as the entirety of who we are, think about our jobs as part of what contributes to a life well-lived. It's a much better recipe for ultimate fulfillment and happiness."

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    Meanwhile, Goel says that on the extreme, people are unhappy at their jobs because they're being constantly berated or bullied. "It can also be being micromanaged, or doing low-impact work that does not match your skills or training. Other reasons include not being valued, not feeling psychologically safe, not having a sense of belonging, feeling stuck, or if your work or efforts are not acknowledged or are devalued."

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    #17

    Woman humorously distracted from work by her cat during a Zoom call, highlighting funny work memes.

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    In addition, those who feel unhappy with their work often fail to have a healthy work-life balance and leave their work at work. For these people, experts recommend learning to set boundaries. "Boundaries are important. Don't let work live rent-free in your mind or cheat yourself or others of you while not at work. Set new expectations with coworkers when you respond and when you don't. Over time, they will become accustomed to it," explained Goel.

    "Do not attribute your work ethic to their expectations—you have your own standards that may or may not match theirs. Give yourself fully to your work when you are doing it, and do good work. Then give your mind a rest to start again."

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