My boss asked me why I only do minimal work.

This little gem of workplace wit gets its power from subverting expectations. When a manager confronts an employee about their performance, we expect an excuse, a promise to do better, or maybe some nervous mumbling. Instead, the employee brilliantly flips the script, turning a critique of their work ethic into a sharp commentary on their salary. The humor lies in the brutal, deadpan honesty, reframing "enthusiasm" not as a default employee setting, but as a premium feature that apparently costs extra.

The joke is a perfect anthem for the modern cubicle warrior and taps directly into the zeitgeist of "quiet quitting" or "acting your wage." It's a fantasy fulfillment for anyone who has ever felt underpaid and unappreciated, forced to put on a happy face for a job that doesn't value them. By putting a price tag on a positive attitude, the punchline gives a voice to the silent protest of millions who have decided to deliver exactly the amount of effort they're compensated for, and not a single cheerful smile more.