To: All Employees
From: The Ad Hoc Committee on
Workplace Levity and Niceness
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Policy on Humor
Due to an escalation in the incidence
of "humor" initiated by employees in recent weeks, and a subsequent rise in the number of
complaints indicating offense at said “humor,” the Humor Subcommittee of the Ad Hoc Committee on Workplace Levity and
Niceness, has issued the following:
Guidelines for Workplace Humor
A. All humor must be clearly
labeled: "Caution! The following material is supposed to be funny."
B. The specific type of humor must be clearly
labeled as ironic, droll, wry, physical, offensive, lighthearted, satirical,
tasteless, intellectual, or other (specify).
C. Offensive humor must be
preceded by a clear warning that clearly designates the person(s) or group(s)
likely to be offended. (For example:
"This humor is likely to be offensive to blonde females of European ancestry
who identify themselves as Californians.")
D. The intended audience for
the humor must be indicated by characteristics such as gender, racial and
ethnic background, political persuasion, educational level, and socio-economic
status. (For example: "This humor
is intended for males who have not progressed intellectually or spiritually
since their sophomore year in high school.")
E. Information should be
readily available from the originator of the humor, which explains the humorous
aspects of the material and contains appropriate apologies to the person(s) or
group(s) mentioned under rule C and a blanket apology to anyone who might have
been overlooked. (The committee is investigating the possibility of creating a
web page for the specific purpose of posting explanations and apologies.)
F.
Those responsible for the humor should be prepared to certify that no animals
were injured or killed in the production of the humor, except yucky ones we
don't like or those that taste good.
G. In order to reduce the
possibility of harm to innocent bystanders of "second-hand humor,"
public displays of humor shall be restricted to a small, designated area out
behind the building. Standing around
being funny at entrances is expressly prohibited.
*SAMPLE*
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Caution: The following material is intended to be
funny!
This humor is whimsical in nature and is intended for
general audiences, suitable for children.
The only persons likely to be offended by this humor
are persons named Moe and people who don't like old, dumb jokes.
Joe: "Say, Moe, can you tell me the
difference between a mailbox and an elephant?
Moe: "Why no, Joe, I can't!"
Joe: "Then I guess I'd better go mail this
letter myself!"
Note: No
elephants were injured or abused in the creation of this humor.
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