Oh yeah hear the one about .....?

Good Day Readers:

Economists are notorious for their lack of humour. Our favorite?

Economist: A recession is when you don't have a belt. A depression is when you don't have a pair of pants.

Sincerely,

Clare L. Pieuk

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WORK THERAPY
JULY 29, 2009
Did You Hear the One About the Recession?
Work Therapy columnist Kayleen Schaefer on the right way to use gallows humor at work
By KAYLEEN SCHAEFER

With so much bad news in the workplace, gallows humor is making a comeback.

Even President Obama used it recently. In a March "60 Minutes" interview, he chuckled when discussing the dire state of parts of the economy. "I just want to say that the only thing less popular than putting money into banks is putting money into the auto industry," he said with a laugh, the AP reported.

Interviewer Steve Kroft asked how that laughter might be perceived, given the economy's troubles. "There's got to be a little gallows humor to get you through the day," Mr. Obama said.

It may seem like a mistake, or at least in poor taste, to find humor in such dark times. Some co-workers may disprove. But psychologists say that gallows humor can be an important way to relieve stress.

"Humor makes you feel in control and it can give you that feeling that everything is okay even when it's not," says James M. Jones, a psychology professor at the University of Delaware.

Psychologists say that just because you're laughing doesn't mean you're wasting time. You're actually making yourself—and those around you—better employees. Occasional teasing and banter among colleagues, particularly if it revolves around things associated with the job, can boost creativity, departmental cohesiveness and performance, they say.

"There are a lot of stressors out there," says Ed Dunkelblau, a psychologist and corporate consultant with the Institute for Emotionally Intelligent Learning in Chicago. "Humor is a way of making difficult things a little less difficult."

This is as long as the humor is used for the right purpose. The main point of it should be motivating people—not mocking them. "Anything that would lift morale in terms of the company would be good humor," says Thierry Guedj, a professor of business and psychology at Boston University. "Before you say or do anything, think about, 'How is this helping my employees' morale?'" Unlike when Michael Scott makes jokes on "The Office" ("He gets people demotivated," Dr. Guedj says), you want to boost the staff's confidence and increase its solidarity.

You want to give your employees and co-workers a sense of belonging, so don't make observations that are aggressive, sarcastic or alienating. "Avoid anything that stereotypes people," Dr. Guedj says. Most obviously, he says, don't make comments about people's ethnicity, physical appearance, sexual preference or faith. An easy check for what to do or say in murkier territory: If you have any doubt it's appropriate, don't go through with it.

Or take aim at the one person you know won't be offended: Yourself. "If there's going to be a butt to a joke or story, it should be you," Mr. Dunkelblau says. For example, if you're a marketing manager reviewing a failed campaign you authorized, begin with a line like, "The guy who signed off on this deal might just be looking for work next week." That's gallows-humor gold.

"People with the ability to laugh at themselves can give other people permission to laugh at themselves too," Mr. Jones says. "And if you can laugh at yourself, you feel better about yourself."

Write to Kayleen Schaefer at worktherapy@wsj.com