news
mishap, keeping people at ease and focused
on more important business concerns.”
Accountemps offers five rules for using
humour in the workplace:
1. Show your personality. When used
appropriately, humour can help build
rapport with colleagues. Interviewing
for a new job? Consider weaving in
some wit to build chemistry with the
hiring manager and show that you
are approachable – a trait of a good
leader. As an added bonus, it can help
alleviate nervous jitters.
2. Consider the circumstances.
Comedians know timing is
everything. While a chuckle or two
can help diffuse stressful situations,
cracking one-liners during a serious
meeting is an unwelcome distraction.
3. Use the right medium. Be cautious
when using humour in an email
or instant message – it might fall
flat or be misinterpreted because
the recipient cannot see your facial
expressions or hear the tone of your
voice.
4. Laugh with them – not at them.
Never use humour at the expense of
others, and be mindful about sarcastic
or demeaning comments that can be
off-putting or offensive. Poking fun at
yourself is safer; it shows that you are
self-aware and don’t take yourself too
seriously.
5. Keep it G-rated. Steer clear of
inappropriate or negative remarks
that could make someone feel
uncomfortable. If you’re unsure of
how your joke may be received, keep
it to yourself.
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RECOGNITION IS CRITICAL IN
THE WORKPLACE
How important is recognizing your em-ployees?
Two-thirds of workers surveyed
by staffing firm OfficeTeam said they’d
likely leave their job if they didn’t feel ap-preciated.
That’s up from 51 per cent who
responded that way in 2012. In contrast,
just over half of senior managers inter-viewed
believe it’s common for staff to quit
due to lack of recognition.
When it comes to giving thanks to
colleagues, is it really the thought that
counts? Employees polled were asked to
recount the strangest form of recognition
they’ve received at work. Here are some of
their responses:
1. “A loaf of bread”
2. “A CD of music written and
performed by a coworker”
3. “A custom statuette of me”
4. “Edible flowers”
5. “A large carving of a polar bear”
6. “An expired gift certificate”
7. “A golden key to an executive
bathroom that didn’t exist”
8. “Socks”
9. “A misspelled plaque”
10. “A plush toy”
11. “Fresh meat from hunting”
12. “A foam tombstone”
13. “A jacket that was too short with arms
that were too long”
14. “Grocery coupons”
15. “A $0.03 raise”
Workers were also asked to describe the
best form of appreciation a boss or col-league
had given them. Their responses
included:
■■ “A handwritten thank-you card from
the chief operating officer”
■■ “A new car”
■■ “Being named employee of the year”
■■ “An all-expenses-paid trip to Jamaica”
■■ “A donation to a nonprofit organization
in my name”
■■ “A message was sent to all employees
acknowledging my work”
■■ “Baseball playoff tickets behind
home plate”
■■ “A day off ”
■■ “A fancy watch”
■■ “Being flown to corporate headquarters
and receiving a plaque”
■■ “An awards show-style event”
NEVER USE HUMOUR AT THE EXPENSE
OF OTHERS, AND BE MINDFUL ABOUT
SARCASTIC OR DEMEANING COMMENTS
THAT CAN BE OFF-PUTTING OR OFFENSIVE.
10 ❚ MAY 2017 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL