Everyone likes to have a joke to make work more entertaining, but you should always be careful about how you attempt to lighten the mood in the workplace. There are some subjects that should never be joked about; here are 18 to avoid at all costs.
Office Hierarchy
Job titles can be a sensitive subject in a work environment and can create a feeling of resentment when joked about. Instead of undermining the leadership figures or putting people down for their lower rank, focus more on how the office can come together collaboratively, with each person providing their own strength.
Your Colleagues’ Age
When in doubt, always choose to avoid ageist comedy. Whether your fellow co-workers are older or younger, every one of them deserves to be in the same room and should be treated equally. Creating tension by opening the room up to negative stereotypes definitely won’t get you any laughs, we promise.
Religious Beliefs
It only takes one joke to offend someone’s beliefs, so don’t let it be yours! Interestingly, HuffPost points out that religious humor can often be positive, but it makes it clear that such a sensitive subject should be left to professional comedians, not amateur clowns in the workplace!
Disabilities
Undermining those dealing with a disability or any health condition, in a humorous manner or otherwise, is a huge no-no. Show respect and compassion to those around you by making your professional environment as accessible as can be, and steer clear of violating any anti-discrimination laws while you’re at it.
Socioeconomic Status
No matter your intent, cracking a joke about one of your colleagues’ earnings is never funny. Not only would it be insensitive, but no one comes to work wanting to feel uncomfortable about something that they aren’t easily able to control!
Physical Appearance
Self-esteem is a very important part of every human’s life, so the appearance of your co-workers should never be joked about. You wouldn’t like it if somebody mocked how you looked, so why would you put someone else through that? Just get on with your job!
Politics
LSE points out that ‘political humor has become increasingly prominent in recent decades.’ While it may be funny in casual settings, it’s not appropriate for a professional setting. It’s unlikely that all of your colleagues will agree with your political opinion, so joking will only cause arguments.
Race & Ethnicity
While this should be pretty obvious, under no circumstance will jokes about race or ethnicity ever fly! Diversity is something that should be celebrated rather than satirized, so always opt to skip the opportunity for a laugh when it comes to harmful racial stereotypes.
Gender and Pronouns
There are many things to joke about in this world, but gender is never one of them. To make sure that you don’t accidentally slip up, take the time to learn more about your co-workers’ gender pronouns and consider their feelings first and foremost.
Office Harassment
The people around you are often fighting battles that you know nothing about, so satirizing harassment in the office will always darken a room rather than lighten it. It could even be a legal liability to partake in this form of humor in the workplace!
Tragedies
If your joke’s only value is shock, you’re going to be in for a bumpy ride, especially if you make it in a professional setting! The BBC shares that we laugh at tragedy to make it easier to deal with, and while that can be true, it’s just not professional.
Sexual Orientation
Everyone has the right to feel safe and have a sense of belonging in a professional setting, including those within the LGBTQ+ community. To be on the receiving end of any unwelcome questions or comments, regardless of the intent, can be extremely uncomfortable and can create unnecessary social rifts.
Marital Status
You may see it as normal, but not everyone will be open to discussing their romantic lives with their work friends. Every day, people go through divorces or are yet to find their perfect match, so avoid hitting a nerve by joking about someone’s marital status, and all will be peachy.
Parenting Choices
Modern parenting is no joke, particularly when it comes to having a work-life balance and juggling children alongside it. So, be compassionate towards your co-workers who are simply doing their best; they’d rather not hear jokes about their already tricky circumstances.
Violence or Abuse
The workplace should be a safe space, and many companies have a policy in place to protect their employees from comments about violence or abuse. Humor like this, which sits on the dark side, can often cause emotional distress, and we’re sure you wouldn’t wish to be the cause of that.
Mental Health
Mental health just isn’t funny, plain and simple. The DP quite rightly points out that a joke about mental health that one person might find amusing ‘could serve as a trigger for someone else,’ so leave it out; there are many far more light-hearted things to joke about at work!
Legal Issues
However relevant to the situation that you find yourself in at work, making light of legal issues can be extremely inappropriate and may result in an uncomfortable atmosphere. Some may not even realize that you mean it as a joke, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to deal with that misunderstanding.
People’s Failures
Last but not least, mistakes and bad days can happen to anyone–yes, even you. How would you feel if the biggest blunder you made at work was ridiculed by those around you? We imagine you wouldn’t be happy, so why do it to anyone else? At times like these, people most likely need support, not jokes.
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