Laughter at workplace is extremely useful in the following ways:

•   Promote higher productivity
•   Build employee engagement
•   Reduce stress and staff absenteeism
•   Increase employee health & wellbeing
•   Enhance lateral thinking and creativity
•   Creates a more resilient workforce

“Creativity and humour are identical. They both involve bringing together two items, which do not have an obvious connection and creating a relationship. Laughter improves creativity. Laughing… is a very sophisticated brain function, which sweeps our entire cerebral cortex, and is terrific for improving mental flexibility.”

This quote is from the web site of Humour Australia, an organisation that “inspires positive change and healthy working relationships.” (Aka “HA!”) Thanks to Frank Connelly and the VPS CIN for bringing this to my attention!

This is based on some fairly impressive research. I am particularly interested in the connection to creativity, bearing in mind earlier posts here about the importance of creativity in knowledge work.

Also interesting to see the research on stress:
“Humour and laughter affect a physiological response, which is actually opposite to the effects of stress, according to Lee Berk & Stanley Tan - Loma Linda University School of Medicine.”

In summary, the research highlights the value of humour in business:

• Promote higher productivity
• Improve customer service
• Build employee engagement
•  Reduce stress and staff absenteeism
• Increase employee health & wellbeing
• Enhance lateral thinking and creativity
• Create a more resilient workforce