How to Stop Offensive Humor in the Workplace
There is an old saying from an unnamed source-“There’s one in every crowd”.
In this case it refers to the person in the office who always goes over the top in their humor and crosses the line from funny to downright offensive. Improper humor can destroy a work environment and kill employee productivity.
According to About.com’sLahle Wolf, “What may be funny to you could be offensive to someone else. And, when it comes to workplace humor, what you may think is funny, could even be illegal.”
Most times, the direct approach is the best approach. People are adults. People all have the right to express concern if it is done professionally. It is a good idea to pull the person aside and not do it in front of others. If the humorist feeds off other people, being alone in a quiet area will disarm that need to impress others around them when you express your concern.
Approach them in the vein that you are concerned over the humor. Speak only for yourself. If you reference concern from another person, it could be seen as an attack or “ganging up” on the person. Use a self-oriented statement saying that you are “sorry but your jokes really come across as inappropriate. Would you mind please not making those jokes in my presence?”
In this instance you are not blaming the person for the humor itself but expressing how it makes you feel. If the other person takes it properly, a quick apology and resolution could come as a result. They may not have even realized they crossed the line.
It is important to stay calm and not even reference the joke itself. Do not feed into what the person thinks is funny.
Body language will be a major factor here as well. Be open to the person physically. By this, it means leaving your hands at your side, not positioned on your hips or having your arms crossed on your chest. If you are a person who has to do something with your hands, take a cup of coffee or a can of soda with you. This will help to keep the person from thinking you are attacking them rather then just expressing concern.
Hopefully the humorist accepts your concerns and takes them to heart. Assuming this, the final step would of course be to thank them for understanding your concerns. Making the person feel good for listening to you never hurts and will definitely cement the genuine intentions of your concerns.
In a perfect world, the humor will be toned down and the workplace can resume a more positive atmosphere. If this does not present with the results you hoped for, you will need to start the process of engaging your direct Supervisor or the Human Resources person.
