What do you believe to be inappropriate uses of humor in the workplace?

Answer 1

Laugh every day, and laugh often. Make sure people are laughing with you, not laughing at you. Each industry and organization will have its own standards for what is or is not appropriate workplace humor. When in doubt, try to see the situation from the point of view of each co-worker, manager, customer or stakeholder. If the humor would be demeaning or offensive to any person, it's probably inappropriate not only for the workplace, but for any place.

We've all been in stressful situations that could be alleviated with a humorous remark or gesture that made perfect sense at the time - that was situational, where "you had to be there," to get the joke. Be cautious about retelling such jokes, because in a different setting, outside of the original context, you may find that the humor value is diminished, and the joke now has potential to offend or confuse those who do not know the original context.

Any joke that implies a poor regard for one's employer, colleague(s) or customer(s) is inappropriate for the workplace. Those whose work includes contact with vulnerable and impressionable young people must take special care to be a good role model. Self-deprecating humor might cause others to think you are less competent and reliable, than you actually are.

Stand-up comedy is its own profession, and many comics will hire joke writers, so if you find your brain is overflowing with humor you cannot share in your place of work, consider ghostwriting jokes for a comic, or even changing professions to better express your true personality and gifts.