4 Benefits of Humor in the Workplace

Jokes at work—yay or nay?

Some people believe there should never be humor in the workplace. That the office is a place of serious business and jokes just don’t belong.

These people, in our humble opinion, are dead wrong.

Humor in the workplace can be incredibly beneficial. We’ll discuss four of these benefits in this blog post. Does that sound like a plan? Then let’s get started!

1. Less Stress

First, humor reduces stress. By encouraging it at your place of business, you’ll help your employees relax. Once they’re relaxed, they’ll become more creative, communicate with their colleagues more effectively, and be more likely to stick around long-term.

In a similar vein, humor at work often boosts company morale, leading to better work in less time. In the end, isn’t that what we all want?

2. Higher Productivity

Let’s talk about productivity…

We all want to be more productive. Why? Because the quicker you get stuff done, the more projects you can complete. The more projects you complete, the more money you make.

Here’s the thing: humor in the workplace leads to higher productivity levels.

This is because humor leads to better company morale, as mentioned above. When your team enjoys coming into the office, they’ll work together more effectively, which often means projects are completed in less time—without sacrificing quality.

3. Better Health

Did you know that humor in the workplace can improve your physical and mental health, too?

Laughter reduces stress, which is one of the main causes of burnout. Eliminate stress from your office and you’ll reduce related feelings, too, such as overwhelm.

But it gets better. According to science, laughter increases immune cells in the body as well, which helps humans like you and me fight off disease. It also triggers the release of endorphins, i.e. natural chemicals that help the body deal with pain.

Want your team to become healthier? Just tell a few jokes at work!

4. Greater Success

Finally, humor in the workplace often leads to greater success.

Think about it, if you and your team experience less stress, are able to reach higher levels of productivity, and take fewer sick days, how can anything but more success happen?

Humor can help you on a personal level, too. What are your career goals? Do you hope to be the boss one day? Then you better develop a sense of humor. Professionals who can make others laugh—or at least take a joke—often get promoted.

It makes sense. Career advancement is, in many ways, about who you know and whether those people enjoy your company. A sense of humor will make you more likeable, and, in turn, give you a better chance to receive the promotion you want.

Win With Humor in the Workplace

There’s no way around it. Humor in the workplace is important. The question is, how do you promote it in your company? There are a few ways…

Lead by Example: Tell a few jokes. Doing so will inspire others to do the same.
Encourage Fun: Make your company a fun place to work. You can do this by asking your team to complete fun projects, planning employee events, etc.
Bring in a Professional: Sometimes the best way to promote humor in the workplace is to hire a professional comedian to perform for your team.

Do you like the sound of option three? Then contact Funny Business Agency. We’ve been booking comedians for corporate clients for three decades. Talk soon!