Workplaces and offices are their own ecosystems. And, frankly, it can be a real jungle in there, dear Pandas. Among the forests of cubicles and the plains of open-space hot desks, in between the towering water coolers and coffee machine islands, you’ll find the natives. They’re industriously typing away on keyboards and working so hard, they’re making their mice squeak. They’ve exchanged cozy bonfires and the sounds of nature for warmly-glowing screens and headphones full of strange sounds. And they look a lot like you and me.

Office life comes with its own quirks, jokes, dreams, and even nightmarish problems to tackle. Anyone who’s ever worked in one knows that there are just as many bizarre cons as there are pros. But what would any workplace be without any humor? We thought we’d bring a smile to your face, so today we’re featuring the popular ‘Employee Tears’ Instagram project and its relatable work memes.

Quite a few of these had me giggling so hard, I had to excuse myself and be alone for a few minutes because of how close they hit to home. Grab yourself a big cup of coffee, a donut or two (or a healthier option if there are any around!), and have a see for yourselves, Pandas. Don’t forget to upvote the memes you liked the most and be sure to share them with your friends. Preferably during work hours so they can catch a break!

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Last week, I spoke to cloud engineer and data analytics consultant Kierra about switching careers, figuring out if we need a fresh start, and how we should view job satisfaction.

The expert, who helps people pivot into new roles, told Bored Panda that employees should think about changing careers "when they’re bored, feel like they’re undervalued, or feeling like work is causing their mental/physical health to suffer."

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"I think it’s rare to feel certain [about career change], especially when your financial stability is on the line but it’s important that you always advocate for yourself, even when it might not feel 'great,'" Kierra noted that it’s difficult to know if your decision to switch jobs is objectively right. However, you have to do what feels right for you, even if things seem scary.

Kierra said that open and regular communication and consistently checking in with employees is what managers should aim for.

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"Asking at least biweekly will allow them to learn how each individual on their team works and what is important to them in their career. This can help the manager to adjust what goals and tasks the people they manage should work on… to get the best out of their role and to maximize their career,” she told Bored Panda.

In Kierra’s opinion, job satisfaction is very subjective. However, things like a higher salary can help motivate workers to do better.

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"Most would probably say money [increases job satisfaction] since it’s needed for survival, but there are many people who are out there doing what they love even though it might not pay well. In reality, I think people want to work a job where they feel appreciated and heard in all aspects (from career goals, innovative ideas, compensation, etc)," she said.

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The expert added that managers and the companies themselves ought to be the ones helping motivate their employees and keeping them interested in their jobs in the long run.

"Perhaps one should try to find roles where there’s lots of opportunity for growth and internal transfer in the event you would like to try something else," she mentioned what the employees can do themselves.

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So, dear Pandas, which of these work and office memes were your favorite ones? Have you ever worked in an office? If so, what were your most and least favorite parts about the whole thing? Let us know in the comments. Meanwhile, if you’re in the mood for some more memes about work, you can check out Bored Panda’s articles here, here, and here.