Humor can reduce workplace stress. It can help break the ice and bring employees closer together. But, as with all things in the workplace, humor has its place and limitations.
Above all, humor and light teasing should never be used at the expense of any single employee or group of employees. Verboten are jokes and teasing that in any way denigrate minorities, women, gays or members of any religious group. Jokes about one's weight, age or physical appearance can be troubling as well. Humor so used can be hurtful, divisive, and lead to discrimination lawsuits.
In today's office environments, employees and managers must be especially vigilant when it comes to the rapid dissemination of inappropriate humor. For example, an off-color or mean spirited joke can sometimes be overheard from one cubicle to the next. And emails, tweets, and the proliferation of social media make "private jokes" virtually obsolete. A hurtful joke or innocent prank between two people in an office can spread like wildfire via the Internet. That means that a bad joke in a Los Angeles office can spread to a company's Florida office in a matter of minutes.
Telling potentially offensive jokes and comments sends a message that your workplace tolerates making fun of people. Keep in mind that just because a person laughs at an inappropriate joke doesn't mean the person wasn't hurt or offended. Many shy or new employees eager to gain acceptance from the group will go along with an insensitive comment or joke because they don't want to appear judgmental or uptight.
For an insightful look on the subject, check out "Top Secret Tips for Successful Humor in the Workplace"
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Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.
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