The Dark Side of Humor in the Workplace: Aggressive Humor, Exhaustion and Intention to Leave the Organization

Summary

This study explores the association between aggressive humor in the workplace and employees' intention to leave the organization, as well as the role of exhaustion as an explanatory mechanism. Data was collected from 101 call-center operators and team leaders in a multinational company. The findings show that aggressive humor is predictive for exhaustion, which in turn predicts the employees' intentions to leave the organization. The moderating role of the quality of leader-employee exchange (LMX) was not supported. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Q&As

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an interesting and in-depth look into the complexities of humor in the workplace. It is great to see research being done on the potential detrimental effects of aggressive humor, and the findings of this study are incredibly valuable to understand the dynamics between aggressive humor, exhaustion, and intention to leave the organization.

👎 This article does not provide any practical solutions to the problem of aggressive humor in the workplace. It would have been beneficial to see some recommendations on how to address this issue in an effective manner.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the dark side of humor in the workplace. It talks about aggressive humor, exhaustion, and intention to leave the organization, and how the quality of leader-member exchange can potentially buffer the negative effects of aggressive humor.

Friend: Wow, that's really interesting. It sounds like aggressive humor can have serious consequences in the workplace.

Me: Yeah, it does. The article suggests that aggressive humor can lead to exhaustion, which in turn can lead to employees wanting to leave the organization. It also found that the quality of leader-member exchange doesn't necessarily buffer the negative effects of aggressive humor.

Friend: That's concerning. It sounds like organizations need to be careful with how they use humor in the workplace.

Me: Absolutely. Humor can be a great way to build relationships and promote team cohesion, but it can also have negative unintended consequences if used inappropriately. Companies should be aware of this and take steps to ensure that humor is used in a positive way.

Action items

• Educate employees on the different types of humor and the potential consequences of using aggressive humor in the workplace.
• Encourage employees to practice positive humor in the workplace and discourage the use of aggressive humor.
• Implement policies and procedures that promote a positive work environment and discourage the use of aggressive humor.

Technical terms

Aggressive Humor

Humor that is used to belittle, mock, or insult someone.

Intention to Leave

The desire to leave an organization or job.

Exhaustion

A state of physical and mental fatigue caused by prolonged stress or overwork.

Quality of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX)

The quality of the relationship between a leader and their team members, which can be measured by the level of trust, respect, and communication between them.

Job Demands-Resources Model (JD-R)

A model that suggests that job demands (e.g. workload, time pressure) can be balanced by job resources (e.g. autonomy, support) in order to reduce stress and improve job satisfaction.

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