No laughing matter?

Lachen ist gesund, aber nicht nur das. Humor am Arbeitsplatz steigert auch die Effizienz der Mitarbeiter, und in vielen Firmen sind deshalb bereits professionelle Humorberater tätig. Margaret Davis ist dem Thema nachgegangen.

Heard on a Southwest Airlines flight: "Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wings, and if you can light them, you can smoke them."

America's Southwest Airlines is famous for encouraging its employees to have fun in the workplace. For many people, though, going to work is no joke. Long hoursand heavy workloads are one source of employee dissatisfaction. But doing boring, repetitive tasks day after day can also lead to stress and low motivation.

Enter the humour consultant. Like so many business trends, this one comes from the US and has spread to Europe. Humour (or comedy) consultants, who often have business or entertainment backgrounds, are hired by companies and organizations to motivate employees and to improve their morale. According to consultants, cheerful workers are more effective and more productive.

In a US study, 97 per cent of employees said humour was a positive quality for managers

Another US company that believes in fun is the ice-cream maker Ben & Jerry's. In the firm's annual report, chief executive officer (CEO)Walt Freese signs himself the "Chief Euphoria Officer". In the late 1980s, Ben & Jerry's started the Joy Gang to plan enjoyable activities for employees. The group, made up of employees who volunteer their time, regularly celebrates holidays, as well as events that are not on the calendar, such as Barry Manilow's birthday. Joy Gang member Lisa Sholk told Fast Company magazine: "It makes fun an official part of the corporate culture. It gives us something to look forward to."