Is It OK to Laugh? Understanding How Stifling Humor Can Also Stifle Workplace Productivity

The job of human resource leaders is to foster a safe, effective and happy work environment. The challenge? Allowing employees to show happiness through laughter while also being aware that some humor may be considered offensive or inappropriate. Where is the line in the sand drawn? And who draws it? Join Greg Schwem in a lively session featuring stand-up comedy, true stories of jokes that missed their marks and video clips featuring workplace incidents that became major news even though they started as “just a joke.” Greg discusses the physical and mental benefits of laughing at work and explores the problems that can arise when one employee finds a text, meme, video, etc. hilarious while another finds it offensive.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the value of humor in the workplace.
• Learn why employees want to laugh at work but are often afraid to, fearful of how their laughter might be interpreted.
• Explore the lack of definition around what makes something “funny” or “inappropriate.”