Offices really need their own version of the Emmy’s, Golden Globes, or the Academy Awards. Sure, leadership could hand out spot bonuses, but it is much cheaper and fun to provide awards to your leaders, team-members, and minions. In an effort to lighten everyone’s mood at work, (especially this week, which is in need of some laughs,) I present to you my generic list of funny office awards. Enjoy and share!
Most Likely to Steal Office Supplies Even if They Don’t Need Them Award – given to the man or woman that pilfers office supplies as some sort of mental escape. I am the proud winner of this three years running. I also have 11 pairs of scissors and six staplers if anyone wants them.
The Tunneling Out Award – provided to the employee spending the most time updating their Linkedin status in hopes of being recruited award. Ironically this person spends most of their working day trying to work somewhere else.
The White Rabbit Award – for the individual that shows up chronically late for every single damn meeting, even the ones they organize and ask for.
Person Most Likely to be Found Watching YouTube and Claiming it was “Self-Paced Training” – Given to that individual who watches movie trailers all day long.
The Deflector – Awarded to the person that takes their work and assigns it to others most effectively and consistently.
Mr. or Ms. Non-Committal – given to the “leader” that refuses to make a decision, even on the most basic thing. No matter how much evidence you provide, the winner of this award will not land on a decision.
The Center of the Universe Award – It’s always all about them. Just ask them.
The Paper, Scissors, Rock Award – Given to the individual that makes arbitrary decisions based on sketchy criteria, just to move things forward.
The Useless Skills Trophy – Presented to the individual whose skill set has nothing to do with anything remotely related to work. Planning an office retirement party is not the same as project management – trust me.
The Mouthpiece Award – Given to the person most likely to spread a rumor just for the fun of it. (I am a three time winner of this myself)
Most Likely to Secretly Love the Annual Budgeting Process Award – Not much can be said here; this person has deep psychological issues. Their punishment isn’t getting the award; it is liking budgeting.
The Stolen Valor Award – for the individual that consistently steals credit for other people’s hard work, claiming he did it, contributed to it, or led it.
Most Paranoid Employee Award – Provided to the individual that is positive that he/she is about to be the target of managerial abuse or a reduction in force. It should be noted that this individual is often correct.
Most Likely to Use PowerPoint as a Primary Communications Tool – Presented to that person that cannot make a trip to the restroom without a 26 slide deck explaining their bowel movements (complete with graphs). Here’s a tip – Putting it in PowerPoint is not the same as actually communicating it. Duh!
The Rebrander – Given to the manager that renames broken projects or products rather than fixes them.
The Terminator – Awarded to the manager that has fired of outsourced the most staff in the given year. This is not something to be proud of.
Most Likely to Create a Spreadsheet to Try and Solve a Problem – Spreadsheets rarely solve problems, they do however, create the illusion of solving problems. This person has a spreadsheet tab set up for every contingency in their life. So sad…
Buzzwordaholic – This honored person embraces anything new that can be described in a buzzword or phrase or, better yet, a catchy acronym. It is their way of appearing well-informed and knowledgeable. For the rest of us, well, we all know bullshit when we see it.
Most Likely to Spend More Time Explaining Why They Are Not Working Rather Than Getting The Work Done – A tad long worded, but that’s how this douchbag rolls.
Class Clown – For the individual that somehow takes every situation, no matter how dire, and manages to make it humorous, if only for a moment.
Hall Monitor – awarded to the individual that keeps track on when people come, go, and how long they spend in the bathroom. I knew one winner who kept a spreadsheet of this.
Most Likely to Throw a Co-Worker Under a Bus at the First Hint of Trouble – This person’s default setting when under pressure is to expose their peers to the underside of a bus transmission.
Points Whore – Awarded to the manager that arranges business trips just to harvest the frequent flyer and hotel points.
Sasquatch Award – Given to the employee that is almost impossible to find, even when they are in the office.
Head up the Ass Award – Bestowed to the employee that is so freaking oblivious that he/she is immune to the effects of reality.
Social Networker Award – This person sits in meetings and tweets and updates Facebook rather than paying attention. Everyone in the office knows they are updating Facebook on company time, because they are guilty of it too. This person just doesn’t even try to cover it up or lie about it.
Tragically Happy or the Most Medicated Award – given to the person in the office that, no matter what, has a sickening Joker-like smile on their face. Even when faced with utter disaster and doom, this person has that dopy smile on their face.
The Office Squealer – Given to the office snitch, the person that will sell out their beloved co-workers in hopes it will advance their own career.
Where Angels Fear to Tread Award – Bestowed to the individual that has taken the biggest risk, regardless of the damage it could have caused to their career.
The Office Cheerleader – Awarded to the person who has consumed the Kool-Aid and believes every little lie that leadership tells him or her. They sing praises to the almighty company and all who sail her.
The Closet Hero Award – Given to the person who has saved the day but never got formal acknowledgement for their sacrifice.
The Lemming Award – This team award is given to group that goes along with the crowd and does something insipidly stupid because they refused to think on their own. (Note: There’s usually a lot of competition for this award).
Most Offensive Smelling Lunch Eaten at a Desk Award – There’s always someone trying to reheat something that reeks as if it was taken off a garbage scow. The complete lack of awareness or concern for the nostrils of their co-workers puts them in heated contention for this award.
The Inappropriate Attire Award – This is a fairly broad category that can cover everything from hooker-wear to Roy who showed up for a live meeting in a Speedo. As long as there have been groups of people working together, there have been people who didn’t dress appropriately for it.
The Rules Nazi – Awarded to the employee that quotes and lives by the rules, regardless if that makes any sense whatsoever.
Artful Dodger(s) – Presented to the individual or team that meets regularly, creates impressive PowerPoint decks, but accomplishes nothing (other than misleading management that they are progressing with their work.) You know who you are…
Able to Turn Any Day into a Monday Award – This Debbie Downer is the person who sucks the life out of room and always goes to the worse-case scenario in their thinking. Even when bonuses are handed out, they point out how much taxes take away.
Tin Cans and String Award – Given to the employee whose internet connection for meetings is so horrible that they are usually unable to hear or speak, yet are still allowed to work from home.
Eternal Keeper of the Stupid Employee Motivational Poster Award – There are always a handful of employees that believe that a catchy saying on a colorful poster inspired others. This award is designed to remind them that we all secretly mock them behind their backs.
The Al Haig Award – Given to the person that assumes authority and power they simply do not have. (It’s a historical reference, look up Alexander Haig after President Regan was shot…oh, never mind…)
Most Likely to Lick the Boss’s Boots in Order to Advance His/Her Career Certificate – Given to that spineless, selfish, blatantly kiss-ass employee that openly adores the boss to the point of making his or her coworkers vomit.
Ignorance is Bliss Award – Given to that person that ignores the obvious and when confronted with facts, turns tail and runs. This person believes the best way to survive in the workplace it to not know or acknowledge what is going on.
Vastly Overqualified – Just Ask Them – Award – It is difficult to talk to this person because their head will not fit in most standard sized conference rooms. They are SO smart and love telling everyone about how ingenious they are. Oh my God, I wish I was as intelligent and insightful as they think they are.
Terminally Downtrodden – Given to the employee whose hopes have been squashed so many times they are a mere rifle perch away from extracting revenge on their co-workers and management. Despite their ill treatment, they refuse to leave.
Looking for a Reason to be Offended Award – Given to the employee that believes they are being oppressed because they are part of an affinity group. They believe they are being singled out for abuse. In reality they are being oppressed just like the rest of the staff.
It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere Award – Given to the person most likely to lead a party of his or her coworkers to the bar after work to attempt to purge/drown their memories of the day.
The Sports Analogy Award – There’s always a weenie that thinks the best way to make people understand or get behind something is with a sports analogy. While this never works, there’s always someone who thinks they are in the movie Rudy and that some sort of sports reference is something everyone can get behind.
Couldn’t Find Their Ass with a Flashlight and Both Hands Award – Bestowed upon that individual who is so hopelessly clueless that they don’t understand that this award is not an honor.
Idiotic Saying or Metaphor Award – Given to the person that says things like, “When one door closes, another one opens,” These little catch-phrases are aimed to inspire, but miss their mark because, well, they are idiotic. When a door closes, it just closes.
Running Out the Clock Award – Presented to that employee that is around 18 months away from retirement, who is doing everything he/she can to keep their head down and stay off of leadership’s radar.
The Teflon Trophy – Given to that individual who commits the equivalent of a war crime at work, but comes through it with their reputation perfectly intact. (I hate that guy…)
Planny-Plan-Plan Award – Given to that one leader that insists on detailed plans for everything while, at the same time, never actually executes those plans. Note: This can be awarded to a project team that becomes so mired in their planning that they cannot actually move to the implementation phases of anything.
In It for the Stale Bagel (aka The Buzzard Award) – Bestowed to that individual who comes to work solely to mooch the leftover/abandoned food outside of conference rooms. “Hey, this saves me $12 a week in breakfast alone!”
The Triumphant Flag Waver Trophy – Presented to that manager that declares a project is over and runs up the flag to declare victory, despite the fact that only half of the work actually complete.
Clearly I have missed some…so what are yours? Add them to the comments.
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These titles are hilarious. I chanced upon them while I was looking for more titles to include in the Fun Office Awards section of our website at https://www.engraveawards.com/collections/fun-office-awards/.