Workplace humour is really just a bit of fun. Critically evaluate this Essay

Workplace humour is really just a bit of fun. Critically evaluate this statement - Essay Example Humor is used in all aspects of communication and merely everyone uses it in their conversation (Ann, 2004). These include religious leaders, political leaders, lawyers, doctors, managers, scientists, engineers, educators or directors. People are mostly stressed at work places and offices more than any other place. Documentation has been done and it shows that workplace or office humor is a good stress reliever, boosts morale, unites people, and helps in to ward burnouts. On the other hand it can be used to create hostility in the working environment and to alienate a worker which leaves them stressed at the long run. As a result workplace humor can reduce stress and at times it can be offensive to the employees. Humor is brought about by popular jokes which are mostly associated with employee’s accent, personal hygiene, age, sexual orientation, physical appearances, weight or even their work behavior like poor attendance or closely working with the boss. We are all aware that the lecturers and teachers rated the best in campus and other learning and educational institutions were those with funny stories, jokes; to them these were a way of capturing the attention of the students. It helped in increasing attendance and kept the students awake. The same case applies to work place; in a working environment with humor, the workers are energized and vigorous leading to increased productivity (Bob, 1989). In many instances women are the ones who are mostly offended by humor as many male employees make jokes about their physical characteristics like cleavage, weight and scars. At times many office jokes meant to evoke humor are not received to be jokes. These may lead to conflicts in the organization and lowering morale and productivity. At some organization, great task are involved in trying to balance the funny office humor and its offensive nature. Humor in itself is not a problem, the problem comes in when a person uses