Humor at work can be your best friend or worst enemy. Inappropriate humor turns people off, offends them and creates conflict. Cross that line and your attempt to bring people together will backfire. It is taboo to joke about age, sex, gender or race. If you are going to point fun at someone, be sure it is at yourself, because other people will take it personally … even if they say they won’t.

Laughter can be great medicine. It can increase productivity, improve creativity, neutralize tension, lower stress, and prevent burnout. Here are some reasons to use humor in the workplace:

It makes you seem approachable. The more approachable you are, the more willing others will be to trust you and share things with you that they might not otherwise.

It can bring more business. Not only do teammates and co-workers like a good laugh, but so do customers and clients. Laughter can make a positive impression on customers, which could bring your organization more business.

It increases work ethic. A humorous atmosphere can bring joy and passion to employees. Employees who feel like they can have a good time at work often work harder and are less tired at the end of the day!

It boosts creativity. Humor encourages openness between teammates, which leads to creative thinking. Having humor between co-workers makes them feel like they can step outside their comfort zone and think outside the box when brainstorming or solving a problem.