Should You Be Funny at Work: HR’s Perspective
When 17-to-20-year-olds were asked if they smiled or laughed a lot yesterday, 85% said yes. This figure drops to 60% when we hit our mid-20s, right when most of us enter the workforce. We are taught that work is serious – and serious things don’t mix with humor or levity. But in fact, research suggests that bringing humor into the office will significantly improve our work.
Humor Helps Get What We Want — In a study conducted by researchers Karen O’Quin and Joel Aronoff, participants were able to get buyers to pay an 18 per cent higher price when they used humor in their negotiation.
Humor Helps Leadership — Research shows that leaders with any sense of humor are seen as 27% more motivating and admired than those who don’t joke around. Their employees are 15% more engaged, and their teams are more than twice as likely to solve a creativite challenge — all of which can translate into improved performance.
Humor Can Open Hidden Doors — Consider how Spanx founder and CEO Sara Blakely first approached the head buyer from Neiman Marcus: She sent a shoe and handwritten note that said “Trying to get my foot in the door; have minutes to chat? And get this: Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright once sang a funny duet with a Russian official after a particularly tense first meeting; it was a takeoff on music from West Side Story called “East West Story.”
Ok that’s all well and good BUT we know you’re thinking — Human Resources has to shut that down, right? Because someone could easily be offended and NOW you could have a messed up work environment—or worse, a lawsuit.
Our own HR expert, Lorein Brightwell advises — “Not in MY HR Department! Where would any of us be without humor?! HR, compliance, and even political correctness does not mean being robotic and devoid of human traits, not the least of which is humor. Often used in the courts of law is the ‘reasonable man theory”—that is, would the reasonable man find your comments or behavior funny, but harmless, or does it cross a line? In 2021, following the waves of social movements and awareness that have empowered the historically marginalized worker (Black Lives Matter, Me Too, etc.), one would have to have been living in a cave, off the grid entirely, or missed harassment training at work one day not to know the definition of appropriate and inappropriate, as well as the actual workplace and social definition of what is offensive."
Brightwell adds, "It’s not an automatic foul to be funny at work. The best HR professionals lead by example and instruction, and contribute to a company’s culture in constructive and affirming ways that support the appropriate workplace individualism that enriches the collective contributions of the entire workforce—without risk of harassment or “risk exposure” to the company he or she leads."
Hey, even with an amazing sense of humor, there is nothing easy about effective and strategic HR management. That’s why the smartest employers look to PLB Resources as their guide to make sure the company is fully in compliance while building an AMAZING workplace!
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