Laughing at Your Boss’ Jokes: Shared Pleasure or Social Obligation?
When a Workplace Superior Makes a Lot of Jokes, People Often Feel Obliged to Laugh
In the workplace, it can be tempting to see humour as a positive part of everyday working life, capable of diffusing tense situations and strengthening team spirit.
The Study: Humour Doesn’t Necessarily Have the Same Positive Impact at Work, Depending on Who’s Making the Joke
A study published in the Academy of Management Journal suggests that humour does not necessarily have the same positive impact at work, depending on who is making the joke.
For example, when someone high up in the hierarchy has a sense of humour, subordinates often feel obliged to laugh at their jokes.
Surface Acting: Feigning Emotions That Are Not Actually Felt
In sociology, this phenomenon is known as “surface acting.” It refers to an emotional state in which one feigns emotions that are not actually felt.
In the long run, the consequences of surface acting can be harmful, especially in terms of mental health.
The Experiment: Participants Tended to Force Themselves to Laugh at the Actor’s Jokes
The authors of the study found evidence of this after conducting an experiment with 212 volunteers.
Participants were divided into groups of three to five people to take part in what the researchers had described to them as a focus group session.
As it turned out, the participants tended to force themselves to laugh at his jokes. But their reactions were particularly exaggerated when the actor embodied an authority figure in their eyes, rather than just a friendly individual.
Jokes at Work are Fine… in Moderation
There’s no doubt that this phenomenon is amplified in the workplace. If your boss is a joker at heart, chances are you’ll laugh out loud at the slightest of their quips – even if they barely make you smile.
After all, your next promotion or pay rise may depend on it. “When the boss tells a joke that is not hilarious, the employee has to decide whether to fake laugh or not,” study co-author, Randall Peterson, told Business Insider.
“That decision takes energy, no matter the decision. If they fake laugh, that is additional emotional labour that takes energy away from work.”
The Consequences of Surface Acting: Employee Malaise and Disengagement
Because feigning emotions – whether positive or negative – is a job in itself. Doing so on a daily basis is exhausting, both psychologically and physically.
Randall Peterson and colleagues claim that, over the long term, this superficial acting can contribute to employee malaise and disengagement.
The Boss is Not Always Aware of the Harmful Effects of Their Jokes
Laughter and smiles are often seen as signs of goodwill, even if they are forced. A manager who receives positive reactions to their jokes – whether genuine or feigned – may be tempted to double down on them in the office, creating a vicious circle.
The Importance of Moderation
That’s not to say, however, that humour has no place at work.
Humour is extremely useful for getting messages across, de-dramatising complex situations, improving the work atmosphere and boosting performance. Just don’t overdo it.
“You can have too much of a good thing! More is not always better. Or think of humour like Marmite – a little goes a long way, and not everyone likes it,” Randall Peterson told Business Insider.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while laughter can bring employees together, it can also become a source of discomfort, especially when it is forced upon them by management. It is essential to strike a balance between sharing pleasure and social obligation when it comes to humour in the workplace.
FAQs
Q: Can I still have a sense of humour at work?
A: Absolutely! Humour is extremely useful for getting messages across, de-dramatising complex situations, improving the work atmosphere, and boosting performance. Just don’t overdo it.
Q: Is my boss aware of the harmful effects of their jokes?
A: Not necessarily. Laughter and smiles are often seen as signs of goodwill, even if they are forced. A manager who receives positive reactions to their jokes – whether genuine or feigned – may be tempted to double down on them in the office, creating a vicious circle.
Q: Can I avoid surface acting?
A: Yes, you can. Be honest with yourself and your colleagues. If a joke doesn’t land, it’s okay to politely smile or move on. Remember, it’s all about moderation and being true to yourself.