Why We Need Office Bloopers and Other Laughing Matters

by Peter Zvalo

Did you hear about the woman at the office who was taking orders for a special jerk chicken lunch? She sent out an e-mail to everyone, including the boss’s boss, with the subject line “jerk”. Yeah, that one went over really well.

Or what about the young guy who worked at The Bay (a Canadian department store) and figured that his suit and tie would impress the ladies after work? He pretended to be a big-shot business man, all the while not realizing that he was still wearing his department store name tag that read “In training to serve you better.”

Then there’s the not-so-bright up-and-comer who was riding in the elevator with the CEO. Without realizing who he was speaking to, he tugged at the lapels of the CEO’s suit and said, “What’s with the stuffy suit — important meeting today?”

And then there’s my favourite. The time when the impatient young woman, in a hurry to get to the office, gave the driver in front her “the finger” when he didn’t immediately hit the gas pedal when the traffic light turned to green. As she followed him into the parking lot, she started to get worried. Wouldn’t you know it, his car wasn’t familiar, but his face was. He was, of course, her boss.

With workplace stress reaching new heights, it’s important, at least every now and then, to take a step back and laugh at some of life’s bloopers and practical jokes. It may just be a good way for stressed-out workers to stay sane.

A recent Health Canada survey of 32,000 workers in Canada confirms what many of us already know: people are working longer hours and it is becoming more difficult for many to balance their personal and professional lives. Office workers today report that they are depressed, unhappy with their employer, and dissatisfied with life. This can, in part, be attributed to the fact that the typical office employee reports spending 40 hours a week at work; nearly 25 hours a month working at home, and 15 hours a month in unpaid overtime. It’s a pace that’s increasing work angst, while jacking up the rate of absenteeism due to mental or physical illness. A decade ago, 56 percent of survey respondents had not missed a day of work for illness in the previous six months. This number slid to 44 percent in the latest survey.

So how do we cope when we’re not away from work on a “mental health day”? It seems that, more than ever, people turn to humour. Anyone with an e-mail account has received humourous e-mails — jokes, funny photographs, cartoons, you name it. While we may have less time for personal interaction with our co-workers, there’s always time to sneak a few minutes to read a joke or open some wacky pictures.

Even if you don’t like receiving such e-mails, seeing the humour in everyday situations can also change your perspective. Like the time I placed one more stack of paper on my bookshelf and an avalanche of paper ensued — the top shelf collapsed onto the one below it and all the shelves below that. Looking at the pile of papers and folders strewn all over my office, I must have looked like a deer in headlights as my co-workers rushed in to see what all the commotion was about.

With another holiday season upon us, we should take some time to relax, reflect, and take heart in knowing that we are not alone. We’ve all had gaffes that we would rather erase from our memories, but what would be the fun in that? Even if you try to forget about the time you patted that well rounded woman on her belly and asked her when she was due — never thinking that she might not actually be pregnant — the holiday office party is our time to remind you of it, and yes, have a laugh. Just remember, we’re not laughing at you, we’re laughing with you.

Note: All the anecdotes described in this article are true and were submitted by friends and co-workers who shall remain anonymous.

Peter Zvalo is a Contributing Editor for Writer’s Block.

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