Ah, Zoom meetings. The digital saviours that kept the world spinning through lockdowns, social distancing, and the temporary demise of the trouser industry.
Who would have thought that in the year of our lord 2023, we’d all become intimately familiar with the concept of “You’re still on mute” and the art of strategically placing a houseplant to disguise the mess you call a living room?
But while Zoom has become an essential part of the working world, it’s also provided a rich tapestry of hilarity, chaos, and moments so cringe-worthy that you’ll want to crawl into a virtual hole and never resurface.
So, without further ado, here are some of the funniest things that have ever happened in a Zoom meeting.
The Classic Catastrophes
Let’s start with the classics - those Zoom fails that will go down in history as both deeply embarrassing and utterly hilarious.
There’s the accidental filter debacle, immortalised by the lawyer who turned up to a court hearing as a cat, delivering the now-iconic line: “I’m here live, I’m not a cat.”
Or the boss who attempted to demonstrate professionalism by using a virtual background - only to have it glitch and reveal a stack of dirty laundry piled up behind him.
And who could forget the devoted employee who stood up mid-meeting, only to reveal they were wearing nothing but an old pair of boxer shorts below the waist?
Pro-tip: If you’re going to wedge yourself permanently into your chair to hide your pyjamas, at least make them the fancy ones.
The Unexpected Visitors
One of the few joys of Zoom meetings is the element of surprise - especially when it comes to unexpected guests.
Like the time a client presentation was interrupted by a toddler bursting into the room, declaring, “Mummy, I need a wee!” with the kind of volume you’d expect from a small but determined rock band.
Or the colleague who was in the middle of a serious discussion about quarterly results when their cat launched itself into the frame, landing squarely on their head like a particularly fluffy hat.
And then there’s the classic spouse cameo, where someone’s partner wanders into shot, obliviously scratching themselves, only to realise they’re on camera and shuffle away in mute horror.
The Miscommunication Mishaps
Ah, miscommunication - the cornerstone of any good Zoom meeting.
There’s the moment when someone thinks they’ve muted themselves and decides to really let loose with their opinions about the meeting, only to realise their mic is still very much on.
Or the person who starts talking with great enthusiasm, going on for a good five minutes, before someone finally musters up the courage to say, “Sorry, you’re still muted.”
And let’s not forget the colleague who accidentally forwarded a private chat message to everyone in the meeting, revealing they’ve been playing ‘Bingo’ with the words “synergy”, “pivot”, and “touch base.”
The Background Blunders
Finally, we have the pièce de résistance - the background blunders that make you thankful you didn’t opt for a career in interior design.
There’s the poor soul who chose a virtual beach background, only to have their head floating ominously above a palm tree for the entire meeting.
Or the person whose bookshelf revealed an embarrassing collection of self-help books with titles like “How to Not Be a Complete Disaster at Life.”
And then there’s the creative genius who decided to use a looping video of them nodding in agreement as their background, freeing them up for a quick nap while everyone else discussed budget forecasts.
Need to Recruit People Who Make Zoom Meetings Fun?
If reading this has made you realise your own Zoom meetings could use a little more personality, we can help.
At Coburg Banks, we find candidates who can bring humour, creativity, and professionalism to any digital table - whether they’re accidentally dressed as a potato or not.
So, if you need to recruit people who can handle the virtual world without losing their sanity (or their trousers), get in touch.
We promise to keep the Zoom fails to a minimum.
Well… mostly.
