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Human resource departments need to understand how to appropriately manage workplace humor and boundaries. They need to establish guidelines that provide insight for managers and employees within the business and also manage situations of inappropriate humor that may arise. Here is how HR departments should manage humor in the workplace.
Humor can play an important role in a variety of different workplace situations. Employees who use humor effectively will find it helps them in situations such as:
However, as people start to think about using workplace humor, it can help to also review the importance of role models.
Managers play a critical role in establishing workplace norms for humor. They help set the tone for what is and is not appropriate. Therefore, managers and other leaders within the business need to be given strict guidelines on what types of jokes they should not tell so that they can nurture a positive office culture.
Those promoted to these positions should also have the self-awareness to make wise choices about their jokes. If managers begin to tell jokes that skirt the guidelines on appropriate humor, they can encourage other people to also make off-color quips.
Certain types of humor fit best within a positive office culture and encourage the desired light-hearted atmosphere within the workplace. Here are some general guidelines about the type of humor that should be avoided to stay within those parameters.
Do not tell aggressive jokes. Any jokes that are aggressive towards a particular employee, such as teasing people, should be avoided as this can damage relationships within teams.
Do not make anyone the butt of jokes. Make sure that jokes do not target a particular person, group of people, or classes of people that might make people feel as though they are being laughed at.
Do not undermine anyone. Jokes that might undermine coworkers can quickly lead to resentment and poor workplace relationships. They can also make listeners uncomfortable.
Do not joke about recent major events, particularly tragedies. It can be difficult to gauge when people would view the jokes positively, and it can be easy to accidentally tell a joke ‘too soon’ for people’s taste.
Those who enjoy making jokes should also pay attention to the timing and placement of the jokes. For a team operating in a crisis mode or during crunch time, someone standing off to the side telling jokes might not be looked upon positively by the rest of the team, who might see this as obnoxious and tone-deaf. Professionals also want to carefully gauge the difference between being a light-hearted, funny person and crossing over to be a ‘class clown.’
For those who want a yardstick to measure whether to tell a joke, it can help to imagine telling the joke in front of a wide audience, instead of just a couple of people at work. Consider whether the joke would land well and how it would reflect on the rest of the business.
As a rule of thumb, professionals should avoid telling any jokes that mock any protected classes, play into stereotypes about groups of people, reflect negatively on a colleague, or go into political territory. If you are unsure of how a joke might land with an audience, it is always best to leave the joke untold to avoid unforeseen problems.
Of course, even with business guidelines like the above, HR departments occasionally encounter inappropriate workplace jokes. Here are some strategies HR departments can use to evaluate if a joke is problematic and what they should do about managing humor at work.
Humor can be an excellent outlet for business professionals and can even help bring teams together. However, the HR department needs to pay close attention to the tone of the jokes and the atmosphere they create to make sure jokes and humor do not become disruptive. Knowing how to manage humor in the workplace can help everyone work together effectively.
Don't let uncertainty about workplace humor hamper your organization's culture. Contact us today for a free HR consultation, and let us help you create an inclusive and harmonious workplace environment.
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