Top considerations for office humour.
Office humour can help boost employee morale and create a positive work environment. But it’s important to remember some basic guidelines before testing out any office humour.
Here are some useful considerations to help you strike the right balance:
- Always tread carefully. Be cautious of anything you say or write and try to avoid upsetting or offending anyone.
- Avoid humorous criticism. Office humour shouldn’t be used to mock or make fun of a coworker.
- Make it obvious that you’re joking. Sometimes people can take things word for word, so it’s important to make it clear when you’re joking.
- Be willing to poke fun at yourself. The safest target for a funny joke is often yourself. Being able to laugh at your own quirks can show colleagues that you’re self-aware and don’t take yourself seriously.
- Stop if it doesn’t feel natural. Some workplaces and colleagues might not appreciate certain types of humour. If you find yourself questioning if a certain joke is appropriate, it’s probably a sign that it isn’t
- Don’t force it. You can’t force humour, and that’s fine. Humour often comes naturally, so if you find it hard to crack a joke, don’t worry. Simply engaging in team meetings or activities can demonstrate your ability to have fun.
- Don’t make discriminatory or offensive jokes. This one should go without saying, but discriminatory or offensive jokes are not acceptable. It’s important to always remain respectful, especially when using humour at work.
Funny Friday dos and don’ts.
Still not 100% sure how to approach office humour? Here are some funny Friday dos and don’ts:
Do:
- Read the room before attempting any humour.
- Choose the right tone of voice.
- Make sure the time and place are right.
- Know your audience and their style of humour.
- Make sure your jokes are appropriate.
Don’t:
- Try to force humour on people.
- Let Friday humour get in the way of work.
- Make a joke if you’re unsure.
- Mock or discredit your coworkers.
- Make jokes at anyone’s expense.
It can be a good idea to get to know your coworkers and establish strong relationships before making jokes. This way you’ll also be able to grasp a better feel as to what type of humour is acceptable in your workplace and the employees who are more likely to be onboard for any funny Friday antics.
How can Adobe Express help you add some office humour to your workplace?
Adobe Express makes it easy for you to get creative in the office. Here are five ways to brighten up your workplace for free:
1. Create your own office memes.
Get creative and make your own memes with Adobe Express. Start by giving your meme a headline, then customise with backgrounds, images and different text styles to make the meme your own.
2. Share relatable workplace GIFs.
Create and share personalised workplace GIFs. Convert your video to a GIF that can easily be shared with your team. Choose from one of three sizing options and edit the aspect ratio to suit your channels.
3. Start your own Friday newsletter, featuring the funniest moments of the week.
What better way to end the working week than with a spot of light-hearted reading? Create a Friday newsletter for your team to read, featuring the funniest moments of the week or month.
4. Create novelty team T-shirts.
Create novelty team T-shirts with Adobe Express for an upcoming Friday social or team away day. These could feature light-hearted office nicknames, team jargon or funny office memes. You can even edit the logos, fonts and colours on your T-shirts to make them on brand.
5. Create a funny TikTok Video.
TikTok videos can be a great way to have fun with your team. Get everyone together to create a funny video inspired by the latest TikTok trend or create an original video to try and create a new viral trend.
Editable workplace memes, gifs and videos to share with your team.