It is a subject that receives significant attention from students of industrial and organizational psychology and of the sociology of work, as well as in popular culture.
Humor is an inevitable part of the social environment of work, and has been argued to be a potential tool for improving worker satisfaction and organizational results.
Studies have suggested that humor can increase worker cohesiveness, creativity, motivation, and resilience in the face of adversity.
[1][4] Inappropriate workplace humor may be deemed as "evidence in sexual harassment, discrimination and hostile work environment cases".
[5] It has led to serious consequences in cases such as the Krull case, where the ombudsman of King County, Washington was fired for sending a copy of the 1894 booklet Instruction and Advice for the Young Bride to his soon-to-be-married assistant,[6] or Chevron Corporation having to pay more than $2 million as a settlement with four employees after an interoffice email circulated on the subject of "25 Reasons Why Beer is Better Than Women".