Employing humour in the workplace: is it worth the risk?

Using humour in the workplace has the potential to elevate your status and make others see you as a bright and competent member of the team, according to workplace psychologist Jennifer Newman.

But there's a line, both legally and professionally, that makes the difference between coming across as witty and looking like a complete clown.

Newman joined Laura Lynch, guest host of CBC's The Early Edition, to break down the pros and cons of cracking wise.

Laura Lynch: How common is using humour in the workplace?

Jennifer Newman: It's an important way workers get through their shifts. 

Researchers indicate it's extremely common and can be quite beneficial. Using humour at work can boost morale, it increases health and when we laugh we take in more oxygen and that helps relieve stress.

When you laugh you decrease your physical pain as well. Humour also tends to reduce the intensity of situations that you're in and its successful use can actually help you get ahead.

How can using humour help your career?

Being funny at work has an effect on how coworkers and your boss end up seeing you. So if you get a laugh, colleagues will see you as more confident and competent.

Using your sense of humour indicates to other people that you are intelligent, capable, skillful and creative.

You get more status. You'll come across more powerfully, you'll gain respect from people and your boss will see you as more independent if you're funny.

If you can actually tell a good joke, you're also going to be most likely viewed as a leader, so you'll get better support and, according to the research, a better outcome later in life.

I didn't know there was so much riding on being able to tell a joke. It sounds good, but what if the jokes don't work or they're inappropriate, what happens?              

It all hinges on being able to tell a good joke. Some workers don't feel comfortable being funny at work so they want to play it safe.

For many, work is viewed as a serious place where being focussed and professional is best, so people won't take the risk.

Others, though, who try to be funny at work may resort to inappropriate humour and that can end up hurting other people, especially if it's a mean, abusive or humiliating sense of humour.

Sexist or racist humour or putdowns are very inappropriate. Sexual innuendo and racial slurs are often used in bullying or harassing in workplaces.

Abuse of others can be carried out under the guise of humour, and the repercussions for using humour abusively are serious.

What can happen when workers misuse humour?

It hurts coworkers and things can become quite toxic. 

I worked with an employee who used a lot of sarcasm: one of those folks who's good with one-liners and zingers. He was told to stop at a certain point because his barrage of putdowns and barbs were just becoming too much.

It reflects very poorly on the joke teller when you're telling inappropriate jokes. It makes the person look as if they're ignorant of social boundaries, they actually don't understand what's going on around them, and it signals a lack of competence.

It lowers the joker's status with their boss and the team. The research is indicating that the major outcome of inappropriate or sexist type of humour is that the joker is seen as confident, but not capable, intelligent or powerful.

Given all that, is it worth it trying to be funny when there's a lot at stake?

There are some pitfalls but like any good comedian you have to know your audience and be mindful of the context.

Funny managers are actually viewed as more effective by their staff. Being a funny teammate can help the team function better, promote creativity and it helps in negotiations. If you can tell a joke while you're negotiating your salary or in other types of arenas you might get better concessions.

So I think go ahead be funny if you're so inclined, just keep it appropriate and good natured.

What if someone makes a joke and it falls flat?

Make sure your jokes aren't offensive and if you offend, apologize immediately. If the joke just wasn't that funny that's okay, try again another time or say something self-deprecating.

It's worth trying because honing your sense of humour is an ongoing project and it can be of benefit to you and to your workplace

With files from CBC Radio One's The Early Edition