| Workplace
Humor - The Fine Line
By Bryan Yingst / January 2007
Humor can unify teams, form friendships and relieve
office stress. But, determining where the lines are
drawn between a simple joke and disrespectful behavior
can be blurred.
A very common mistake by individuals is to assume that
just because something was heard on TV or the radio,
that it is OK to repeat such jokes in the workplace.
This is not always the case. Take for example the following
scenario.
You overhear a coworker, Neill, telling another coworker,
Melissa, the following joke:
"Hey Melissa! what's the difference between
a pregnant lady and a lightbulb?"
Now, without hearing the punch line, we can assume that
Neill was merely trying to lighten the mood by entertaining
a fellow coworker. But, without being able to read Melissa’s
mind, he (or anybody for that matter) couldn’t possibly
know how she might perceive this joke.
What if Melissa finds sex-based humor offensive? Or
what if Melissa is pregnant herself or has emotional
issues with pregnancy? Well then. What started off as
a good intention may actually have the reverse effect.
Jokes that are sex-based, or that are made at the expense
of another person or group of people can be harmful
to our work environment. Even if the target of the joke
isn’t present to hear it or if you, yourself, are part
of that group.
You see, offensive jokes and comments send the wrong
message to everyone around us that it’s OK to be disrespectful
to individuals.
Remember, different people have different tastes. What
might be funny or amusing to one person, may be received
as offensive by other. As positive professionals, we
need to use good judgment as to what you do or don't
discuss in the workplace. This means respecting the
fact that we all have the right to work in an environment
that is comfortable.
Workplace humor is just one topic found within KnowledgeStart’s
Sexual Harassment Prevention product. This e-learning
course was designed using the latest EEOC guidelines,
policies and procedures using real life situations.
For a no-obligation, 15 day free trial, please call
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or email info@knowledgestart.com
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We are a leading provider of award-winning e-learning programs and platforms
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KnowledgeStart understands that every decision made by your employees eventually
crosses someone's path somehow and can often have a "ripple effect" across your
entire organization. Even the smallest of decisions can have a BIG impact on
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