Humor in the Workplace

The other day I was working on location in a newsroom at the Los Angeles Times. One of the reporters had a hologram of a beautiful Hawaiian woman posted on the partition of his cubicle. As you pass the picture, the woman winks and smiles.

Above the hologram was a sign that read, "Smiling Miracle Lady. If the lady smiles when you pass, you will receive a miracle. To claim your miracle please enter and remit a small processing fee. Your miracle will arrive shortly thereafter. "

His work area was cluttered with humorous figurines and funny slogans. Clearly, this is a fellow who likes to laugh and enjoys sharing his sense of humor with his co-workers. And I commend him for it. Injecting a little levity into the workplace reduces stress and, ultimately, helps people to be more productive.