Workplace Productivity

Constructing and Maintaining Collegial Relationships

In its most basic function, humor facilitates the construction and maintenance of positive and collegial relationships among colleagues and contributes to [Page 802]creating a positive workplace atmosphere. These functions, in turn, may have positive effects on people’s productivity at work. More specifically, friendly collegial relationships and a positive workplace atmosphere contribute to creating a place where people are more likely to enjoy their work, and as a consequence, they may be more satisfied with their jobs, are more likely to deal well with stress and change, and are less likely to be sick. In short, people who enjoy their work are generally reported to perform better.

Relieving Tensions and Dealing With Stress

Humor may also function as a valve to release stress and express anxiety or dissatisfaction with the management or any other aspect of workplace reality. In this context, humor may provide a relatively safe channel through which the status quo and “the way things are done around here” may be challenged and criticized. In other words, it may enable employees to voice their resistance toward institutional practices in acceptable ways. And wrapping a negative message (such as a complaint or criticism) in humor—especially when it is directed upward—makes it not only more acceptable but makes it also safer for those who have uttered it as they can always say that they were “just joking.”

Stimulating Intellectual Activity and Preventing Boredom and Fatigue

Another positive function of humor and the laughter (or other responses) that it often triggers lies in its ability to spice up boring routines and make people more alert. This function is particularly useful in lengthy meetings or heated discussions. When used in these contexts, humor may encourage people’s participation and involvement; it may also build bridges between opposing viewpoints, and it may facilitate the communication of potentially threatening messages (such as disagreements). Moreover, humor in the form of apparently nonsense suggestions (e.g., during a brainstorming activity) may encourage thinking from a new perspective, which may result in participants coming up with creative ideas and solutions.

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