40 Times Bosses Put Up Incredibly Disturbing Workplace Signs

By now, most of us recognize the warning sign when an employer claims, “We’re all family here.” But it’s just as concerning when companies treat their workers like machines rather than humans. Unfortunately, workplace toxicity has been on the rise in recent years, and one way in which bosses have contributed to this is by posting demeaning messages to their employees. We’ve gathered some of the most shocking notes that companies and employers have displayed in their workplaces and shared them with you in the gallery below.

#1 My Job Threatened To Withhold My Paycheck To Ensure No One Left Early; I Responded Accordingly

#2 “Time Theft”

The managerial mindset. Why not ask why someone would do such a thing, instead of putting up signs all around the bathroom? All the managers here are jerks who rarely respect my 30-minute break time, let alone be kind or empathetic. If I’ve learned anything working in food service or any job, it’s that unhappy workers are unproductive workers.

#3 This Sign

#4 Wanted To Share What My Boss Has Been Hanging In The Break Room

#5 Boss Wrote “Thief” On My Check

Filed a wage theft report against my former employer, was told he only paid 80% of what was owned, but I sucked it up. When I picked up the check at the Department of Labor, it had “THIEF” boldly written on the subject line. Super awkward, unfair, and embarrassing, especially with others witnessing it. Is there anything that can be done?

#6 Popular Sandwich Chain Had This Tip Sign

I saw this, this weekend. I was shocked, to say the least. It’s a popular sandwich chain that has over 200 locations in the US. Not sure what to do, but I did give them a cash tip in the moment. DFW, TX was where I saw this nonsense. Thoughts on what I should do next to help the employees? Or do I let them do something? Not looking to get anyone canned, even though their owner is clearly a POS.

#7 The Most Toxic Thing I’ve Ever Seen Hanging On An Office Wall

#8 My Local Denny’s Has This Sign In Plain View

Pretty aggressive sign at my local Denny’s posted right behind the counter. Been here 15 minutes and already heard a worker complain about being shorted a day on their paycheck. No wonder it’s always short-staffed.

#9 Nice Sign I Saw

#10 This Motivational Quote When I Walked In This Morning

#11 I’m Probably Going To Be Fired For This, But I Don’t Care

#12 This Sign At A Chain Pizza Place Left A Bad Taste In My Mouth

#13 Punishment For Talking About Wages

#14 My First Job Has Crazy Fees

#15 I’m So Done With This Petty, Stupid Garbage

#16 Surely It Has Nothing To Do With $2.17 Per Hour And No Benefits. Oh, And Please Make Sure You Pay My Staff For Me And Tip

#17 Only In America Would A Restaurant Display On The Wall That They Don’t Pay Their Staff Enough To Live On

#18 Recently Posted At Work

My boss makes a dollar, I make a dime. That’s why I poop on company time.

#19 Injury At Work

Hello. I work at a Subway franchise in a small town in Tennessee. Tonight, my hand got crushed under the glass that separates the food and customers. I was instructed to go to the walk-in clinic if it was open, and if it wasn’t, to just go tomorrow morning. My supervisor said I could not go to the ER because she would get in trouble. I went to the clinic and they took the info from my supervisor, and the entire clinic staff thought the entire situation was sketchy. They put me in a splint for now and said to come back in the morning because the x-ray tech had already gone home. Apparently it is not being filed as worker’s compensation, and instead the office (for this chain of franchises) will pay the bill in cash. My supervisor couldn’t even find any injury forms and said the general manager has never trained her on what to do in this situation. I’m scared to talk to my general manager tomorrow, because I’m worried I’ll be tricked into making Subway more responsible.

#20 The Place My Girlfriend Works At Just Posted This Sign In Their Break Room. The Company Had Record Profits Last Year

#21 This Sign Posted At Our Shop. Don’t They Know I Need At Least 3 Days Off A Month For My Mental Health

#22 Recent “Sweat Pledge” My Wife Was Asked To Sign Before Employment

#23 Posted On All The Operating Room Doors Today

#24 $90,000,000 In Sales And This Target Store Rewarded The Workers With Cupcakes. Yes, Cupcakes

#25 I Left My Job Shortly After Receiving This Prize For My Good Work

#26 A Sign In My Hospital Reminding Nurses To Bill Patients For A Pillow. Yeah USA

#27 A Department Manager Did This To My Bike When I Had It In The Back For A Single Day

#28 Local Subway Had This Posted On Their Door, I Ask The Manager What The Starting Pay Is And He Couldn’t Give Me A Straight Answer

#29 Charging Your Phone Is Theft Of Electricity, Apparently

#30 I Have No Words

#31 Dollar General Management With An Inspiring Message To Staff

#32 When My Grandfather Passed Away, My Boss Asked For A Funeral Note. What Is A Funeral Note?

#33 Came Into Work This Morning To Find This Taped To The Wall. Boss Went On A Tirade Against Me And Co-Worker Yesterday For Taking To Each Other With No Customers In The Store

#34 Place I Worked For A Month

One of the worst places I’ve worked. Super short-staffed, managers are buddies with the crew, always had issues with pay. Was only there a month before I left. Glad I’m not employed there anymore.

#35 So This Is The Sign Posted On The Bathroom Door At Work Today

#36 Saw This Sign At McDonald’s And Thought It Belonged Here

#37 Sign Posted At A Local Dollar General. Good For Them

#38 Is This Even Legal In USA?

#39 Saw This Posted On The Schedule After A Coworker Called Out Sick. Is This Even Legal?

#40 Is This Even Legal? Stopped At A Restaurant For Lunch And Saw This Sign In The Employee Area

Shanilou Perera

Shanilou has always loved reading and learning about the world we live in. While she enjoys fictional books and stories just as much, since childhood she was especially fascinated by encyclopaedias and strangely enough, self-help books. As a kid, she spent most of her time consuming as much knowledge as she could get her hands on and could always be found at the library. Now, she still enjoys finding out about all the amazing things that surround us in our day-to-day lives and is blessed to be able to write about them to share with the whole world as a profession.