jokes

Emailing Coworkers – Is It OK to Joke Around?

By in Communication Tags: , ,

Laughing_at_email_joke

We all use email to communicate with our coworkers. It’s so convenient! It’s quick, easy, and doesn’t require you to leave your office or pick up the phone.

And if you’ve been working in a certain office for a while, your emails have probably gotten a little informal. You might include an occasional smiley face. You might even be inspired to include a joke or two. But should you? Is it OK to joke around in your emails?

The answer really depends on five things:

  1. How well do you know the person you’re emailing? If you have a close relationship with the person, then a joke is probably OK. If you’re less familiar with the person (and you’re not entirely sure how the joke will be received), then it’s not a good idea.
  2. Would the person you’re emailing send you a similar joke? If so, then your joke is probably fine. If not, you should leave it out.
  3. Is your joke even slightly inappropriate? If so, don’t email it. It could end up being forwarded to someone who feels offended by what you wrote. And that could ultimately cost you your job. It’s definitely not worth it!
  4. Would your boss be upset if he or she read your joke? If so, don’t send it to anyone.
  5. Are you making light of a serious topic? If something upsetting has happened at the office or you have difficult news to convey, a joke might not be appropriate. When you’re having a difficult conversation, it’s usually best to do so in a serious manner.

 

McCord, S. (n.d.). 6 quick questions to ask yourself on that “funny” email before you hit send. The Muse. Retrieved from https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-quick-questions-to-ask-yourself-on-that-funny-email-before-you-hit-send?ref=recommended

The Benefits and Dangers of Humor at Work

By in Humor, Learning Tags: , ,

Telling_a_Joke

Do you want your coworkers’ respect? Try telling a joke!

According to a recent study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, people who tell jokes at work are viewed as being more confident, competent, important, and intelligent than their more serious counterparts. People like and admire their funny coworkers.

And apparently, it’s also great when managers use humor. When managers are willing to joke around, their employees tend to be more cohesive, productive, relaxed, and creative.

But beware! You can’t just tell any old joke and expect to reap the rewards. It has to be an appropriate joke. Researchers found that when people tell offensive or off-color jokes, their status can immediately plummet. After just one inappropriate joke, they’re held in lower regard than people who never attempt to tell jokes in the first place.

So feel free to joke around, but make sure to do it in the right way. If you tell an appropriate joke, people will appreciate it. Even if they don’t find it funny, they’ll still view you as an intelligent, confident person.

 

Shellenbarger, S. (2017, January 24). The joke that makes or breaks you at work. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-joke-that-makes-or-breaks-you-at-work-1485273069