Gofer

This article is about jobs that include running errands. For the animal, seeGopher.For other uses, seeGofer (disambiguation)andGopher (disambiguation).

Agofer,go-ferorgopher/ˈɡoʊfər/is anemployeewho specializes in the delivery of special items to their superior(s). Examples of these special items include a cup of coffee, a tool, a tailored suit, or a car. Outside of the business world, the term is used to describe a child or young adult who is learning how to do tasks and is sent to fetch items. A similar job is that ofpeoninCommonwealth countries.

Gofermay also refer to a junior member of an organisation who generally receive the most vexing and thankless work. Law firms with a top-heavy management structure, having not enough junior lawyers to take care of menial yet necessary tasks, can be referred to as having "too manyloafersand not enoughgophers".

Etymology

Gofer derives from “go for” and typifies a boss’s often impromptu order to an underling, usually a menial one, to go and fetch something, frequently of a personal nature, such as coffee,dry-cleaned garments,orpostage stamps.The term originated inNorth America.

In popular culture

In the first season (1976) of the television seriesThe Muppet Show,Scooterwas given the stage manager job because his uncle owned the theater where theMuppetsperformed. Thepunwas that agophernot only is an animal, like the Muppets supposedly are, but is a fast animal, collecting food and delivering it somewhere else. At some point in the Muppets series,Kermit the Frogsuggested that he himself was a gofer, but probably didn't last long in the job.

Chavo Guerrerowas considered to be a gofer for his auntVickie GuerreroonWWE'sSmackDownfor most of 2008 (Vickie wasSmackDown'sGeneral Manager at the time) when they were both part of thevillainousLa Familiastable. This would become a sporadic running joke on WWE programming as other superstars would mock Chavo for this reason.

The 2008 filmWALL-Efeatures a robotic gofer (named GO-4, a pun on gofer), who is the henchman of the villainousAIautopilot AUTO.

Brad Pitt's character Cliff Booth is a gofer for Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) in the 2019 movieOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood.

In the TV seriesEntourage,the characterSalvatore "Turtle" Assante,is gofer to movie starVincent Chase.

InJoJo's Bizarre Adventure:The JoJoLands,the main character, Jodio Joestar, is a gofer and gangster for the state's underground drug trade.