Humour is an odd thing. Some people find certain humour tremendously offensive – while others roll about laughing.
And – just to complicate things even more – what passes as humorous (and therefore not generally offensive) changes over time, and varies between cultures too.
These different factors make humour in the workplace a potential mindfield for employers. While it is acceptable – and indeed usual – for any employer to require an “appropriate” standard of behaviour from its employees, what falls within this description may vary between different workplaces, and even between different groups of people.
A recent American case dealt with an allegation of inappropriate conduct – in the context of what was said to be unwanted sexual innuendo.
You are currently browsing the monthly archive for December 2009.
As you might expect, the HR blogs seem to be full of helpful advice at this time of year for those attending Christmas parties.
Of the different ones that I have read, this one seemed to be one of the more helpful – if not humorous. You may enjoy having a look!
It is, of course, quite fashionable (if not socially compulsory) to demonstrate some sensitivity towards the environment, and the sustainability of our resources.
But not everybody necessarily agrees about the way in which we should achieve our sustainability goals – and there are even those who still claim that this whole area is a fad, or a load of rubbish (no pun intended).
The English Employment Appeal Tribunal was recently asked to consider whether an employee could bring a claim alleging discrimination on the basis of a difference in philosophical belief about such issues. It has received considerable publicity around the world as a ground-breaking consideration of the place and significance of philosophical beliefs in the workplace.
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