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The benefits of humor at work have been touted since the early 90’s, and yet only 1/3rd of workers use it consistently.[1] Here’s why you should use humor in the workplace.

THE NEED FOR HUMOR AT WORK

83% of Americans feel stressed out at work. [2]

55% of Americans are unsatisfied with their job. [3]

47% of Americans struggle to stay happy. [4]

BENEFITS OF HUMOR

Humor and Productivity. When challenged with a problem, people who watched a comedy video beforehand were 3.75 times more likely to solve the problem. [5]

When challenged with a problem, people who watched a comedy video beforehand were 3.75 times more likely to solve the problem. [5] Humor and Stress. Laughing for 10 to 15 minutes can: Increase your heart rate by 20% [6] Improve blood flow by 50% [7] Burn as many calories as 5 minutes of aerobic exercise, 10 minutes of dancing, or 15 minutes of milking a cow. [8]

Laughing for 10 to 15 minutes can: Humor and Relationships. Humor helps build relationships by group cohesiveness, reduction of status differentials, diffusion of conflict, team and trust building among diverse groups. [9] And people with 3 close friends at work are 96% more likely to be satisfied with their lives. [10]

Humor helps build relationships by group cohesiveness, reduction of status differentials, diffusion of conflict, team and trust building among diverse groups. [9] And people with 3 close friends at work are 96% more likely to be satisfied with their lives. [10] Humor and Happiness. Humor can increase happiness by up to 42%. [11]

WHY HUMOR AT WORK IS MISSING

With so many benefits to using humor, why do only 33% of workers use it? [1]

41% say “I don’t think my boss, peers or direct reports would approve.”

36% say “I don’t know how.”

15% say “I don’t have time.”

7% say “I don’t see it’s value.”

PEOPLE WANT HUMOR

81% of employees say a fun workplace would make them more productive. [12]

97% of professionals believe it’s important that managers have a sense of humor. [13]

98% of CEOs prefer job candidates with a sense of humor. [6]

HOW TO HUMOR

Humor is defined as: a comic, absurd, or incongruous quality causing amusement. Humor at work isn’t about making work funny, it’s about making work fun.

Four Styles of Humor (in order of appropriateness at the office):

Affiliative – Amusing others as a way to facilitate relationships. Self-Enhancing – Finding amusement in life’s hardships and staying positive. Self-Defeating – Saying funny things at one’s own expense. Aggressive – Disparaging others as a way of manipulating them.*

*Not really appropriate for the workplace.

Get Started

Add a humor section to your newsletter. Take an improv class together. Ask interesting questions. Celebrate Beer:30. Practice Yes And! Share this webpage.

Find even more ways to use humor in the best-selling book / app, 501 Ways to Use Humor at Work. Or sign up for my monthly humor at work newsletter.

SOURCES

[1] Humor That Works Survey[2] Stressed Out at Work? By Susan Adams. Forbes.com April 2013[3] The Science of Workplace Happiness , US News.[4] US Happiness: Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index[5] Positive affect facilitates creative problem solving by Alice M Isen, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1987[6] “The Comedy Cure” in Readers Digest Sept. 2007[7] “50 Ways to Beat the Reaper” by Denny Watkins & Alison Granell & Heather Loeb[8] “ Give Your Body a Boost with Laughter .” R Morgan Griffin. WebMD[9] “Humor in the Workplace: A Communication Challenge” by Robert A. Vartebedian, PHD. Presented at Speech Communication Association, Nov 1993[10] Vital Friends by Tom Rath[11] Humor Therapy: Relieving Chronic Pain and Enhancing Happiness for Older Adults by Mimi M.Y. Tse. Journal of Aging Research. Volume 2010.[12] Humor in the Workplace: Anecdotal Evidence Suggests Connection to Employee Performance by Lauren Breeze. Perspectives in Business, St Edwards University, 2004.[13] Inside Joke: Humor Can Help the Bottom Line . Dana Wilkie. Society for HR Management. October 2013.