There are many emails in life that you quickly delete and pretend you never saw.
The one from your bank reminding you that you’ve dangerously overestimated your own financial responsibility.
The one from your mother with the subject line: “Fwd: Fwd: Fwd: Fwd: Adorable Puppy Pics.”
And then there are the emails that you simply cannot unsee - the ones that make you question your faith in humanity, your career choices, and whether you should ever open your inbox again.
Yes, I’m talking about corporate emails that were written in a fit of madness and somehow managed to slip past the sender’s better judgment, out into the world to wreak havoc upon unsuspecting recipients.
So, in honour of these digital disasters, let’s take a look at some of the funniest corporate emails that should never have been sent.
1. The Accidental ‘Reply All’
There are few mistakes more terrifying than the accidental ‘Reply All.’
One employee meant to send a cheeky message to a colleague:
"Can’t be bothered with this stupid meeting. Let's skive and grab a pint?"
Unfortunately, they accidentally hit ‘Reply All’ to the entire company, including the boss, HR, and that one guy from IT who never leaves his desk.
The fallout? A hastily organised meeting about “proper email protocol,” which was met with stony silence and carefully avoided eye contact.
2. The Emoji Overload
Emojis are great for casual chats with friends, but in the corporate world, they’re best used sparingly.
One overly enthusiastic manager, however, decided to send out a company-wide email with this charming sign-off:
"Looking forward to smashing those Q3 targets! 💪🚀🔥🎉"
Needless to say, it was the talk of the office for weeks, with one employee reportedly creating an unofficial ‘Emoji of the Month’ award in their honour.
3. The One With the Invisible Attachment
We've all done it: sent an email promising an attachment and then promptly forgotten to attach it.
But one diligent employee took it to a whole new level by sending a follow-up email:
"Apologies, forgot the attachment! Here it is."
…only to forget the attachment again.
By the third attempt, they simply wrote:
"Well, this is just embarrassing. Let’s try this one more time…”
It finally worked - but not before being immortalised as a cautionary tale in the company newsletter.
4. The Autocorrect Fail
Autocorrect is a double-edged sword. It can save you from typos, or it can transform your innocent email into a source of endless laughter.
One memorable example involved a manager who intended to write:
"Let’s circle back on this."
Instead, they sent:
"Let’s circle jerk on this."
The email was swiftly followed by a mortified apology: “PLEASE ignore my last email. I meant ‘circle back’.”
But by then, the damage was done, and the screen grabs were already circulating through the office like wildfire.
5. The Overly Honest Out-of-Office
Most out-of-office replies are pretty standard. But one employee decided to inject some brutal honesty into theirs:
"I’m out of the office right now because I’m sick of you people. I will probably ignore your email when I return."
It was meant as a joke for their team, but an IT glitch sent it to external clients as well.
The result? An awkward meeting with HR and a swift retraction email that simply read:
"My sincerest apologies. I was just joking. Please don’t fire me."
6. The Misguided Motivational Email
In an attempt to boost morale, a well-meaning manager sent out an email with the subject line:
"Let’s make this place less miserable!"
Unfortunately, the body of the email was no less optimistic:
"I know it’s hard. I know Mondays suck. But just think of the weekend and maybe the misery won’t feel so bad."
While their intentions were good, the execution left much to be desired, and it became the office’s favourite meme for months to come.
Need Help Finding Employees Who Can Actually Write an Email?
If these emails sound painfully familiar and you’re tired of facing inbox disasters, we can help.
At Coburg Banks, we specialise in recruiting candidates who can communicate effectively without causing a corporate meltdown.
So, if you need to recruit people who can handle their emails like pros - get in touch.
We promise to spare you the embarrassment.
