When Workplace Jokes Go Too Far

Jokes in the workplace may seem harmless, but when they cross the line, they can create a hostile environment. Employees often don’t realize when humor turns into harassment. This microlesson provides skills training to help employees recognize inappropriate jokes, set respectful boundaries, and maintain a professional workplace culture.

Microlesson Description

In this microlesson, we show how jokes and a little fun at work can sometimes go a little too far. Some jokes (let them be about diversity and inclusion or not) can potentially violate policies of inclusion and respect or count as harassment, without employees even realizing it. If an employee missteps or hurts someone’s feelings, the best thing to do is acknowledge it and apologize. We’re all human. Eventually, someone is going to say or do something unkind.

Key Concepts

• Avoid causing hard feelings by putting yourself in the other person’s shoes.
• How to self-correct, apologize, and stop the offensive behavior.
• Actions have consequences - good or bad - and anyone has the power to make a difference.

Microlesson Features

• Employee sentiment pulsing questions that provide leaders with insights into their workforce's core cultural competencies
• Emtrain's Expert Answers tool, enabling employeees to submit anonymous questions about sensitive issues.

• Rich, contemporary video scences illustrating key concepts through realistic scenarios
• A data driven, skill-based approach to eLearning that establishes a shared language for employees.

Preview Microlesson