ABSTRACT
Humor has great potential as an untapped business resource; however, we are here concerned with the ways in which enthusiasm about the value of humor in social relations may mask the extent to which jokes, pranks, gags, and laughs can also instantiate negative effects in the social relationships that constitute the work environment. As scholars Penelope Brunner and Melinda Costello argue in relation to women in leadership positions, “sexual humor may be used, consciously or unconsciously, to undermine control.” 1 They find that in these instances sexual humor is used not only to undermine female authority in the workplace, but also to preserve problematic organizational structures that are implicitly hostile to women’s participation in certain industry sectors. While there are many ways that humor can serve a positive organizational role, it must also be acknowledged that social inequalities and prejudices which feed discriminatory practices can be reinforced by humorous exchange. Positive appraisals of the social role of humor too often overlook some of the negative consequences of joking. Not all humor is in good fun. When used against outsiders or minority groups in the workplace, it can result in discomfort, unwelcoming work environments, social exclusion, the exclusion of newcomers, and the reinforcement of inequalities within organizations.
