How Does Humor Ease Workplace Challenges? Share Your Insights and References

I always believe that humor can play a vital role in an organization. To get something done by your workforce, even in a difficult situation and at the same time to pass down a command to a diplomat under command; I found that a small touch of humor in conversations makes the whole thing easy and smooth.

Friends, can anybody give me some more points in this regard, and if possible with some references? I am going to write about it. Thanks.

Hello Major,

Organizational humor is fast expanding into various sections within an organization. Organizations have witnessed greater productivity, improved employee morale, lower absenteeism, a healthy and creative workforce, and many other benefits.

The topic is a good one to write about. For your write-up, I suggest doing a Google search. The resources and articles on the same are not uncommon. Some of the links I came across and really liked are:

- [http://www.expressitpeople.com/20040419/management1.shtml](http://www.expressitpeople.com/20040419/management1.shtml)
- [http://uwe.ac.uk](http://uwe.ac.uk) (*link updated to site home*)
- Social research article. The list of references given at the end could be very helpful.
- [http://massey.ac.nz](http://massey.ac.nz) (Evaluation of humor in emergency work)
- [http://www.lotus-exchange.com/comedy-skills-humor.shtml](http://www.lotus-exchange.com/comedy-skills-humor.shtml) (this link provides a view of the comedy workshops that lotus-exchange does for organizations.)

Regards,
Vinisha.

When you say humor in an organization, I got this joke which is worth sharing.

How to ask your boss for a salary increase?

One day an employee sends a letter to her boss asking for an increase in her salary!!!

Dear Boss,

In this life, we all need something most desperately. I think you should be understanding of the needs of us workers who have given so much support, including sweat and service to your company. I am sure you will guess what I mean and respond soon.

Yours sincerely,
Employee

The next day, the employee received this reply:

Dear,

I know you have been working very hard. Nowadays, nothing much has changed. You must have noticed that our company is not doing noticeably well as yet. Now the newspapers are saying the world's leading economists are not sure if the United States may go into another recession. After the November presidential elections, things may turn bad. I have nothing more to add now. You know what I mean.

Yours truly,
Manager
:):):)