Does Gen Z humor belong in the workplace?

Laugh out loud  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Share this email Share this email on LinkedIn   Share this email on Twitter   Share this email on Facebook   CURATED READS FOR GEN Z—AND THEIR Z-CURIOUS COLLEAGUES Subscribe Click to get this newsletter weekly first up Welcome back—this week I commit the cardinal sin of being a joke explainer.  If you search "Why is Gen Z humor …" the first autofill result (at least for me) is "Why is Gen Z humor broken?"  Gen Zers have a language all their own, with a complicated lexicon of in-jokes, memes, and internet culture references. It's different from previous generations' humor; it's chaotic, based in absurdism, and often with no punchline. In the office, it can easily leave more senior coworkers baffled. So why does it matter? Do other generations really have to get the joke? Well, humor is a stronger force at work than you might expect. Humor releases hormones that make us feel happier and less stressed and can be key for trust between coworkers. And laughter goes a long way toward creating a positive work environment—it's the number-one predictor of employee psychological safety, according to a survey by McKinsey senior partner Aaron De Smet and coauthors. If your employees feel safe, they'll work better and like work more, possibly keeping retention up and attrition down. In fact:      • Leaders with a sense of humor are seen as 27 percent more motivating.   • Employees of leaders with a sense of humor are 15 percent more engaged.   Gen Z is no different; our jokes might be quirkier, but we too crave connection at work. A quick tip about Gen Z humor: as noted earlier, it's often based in absurdism. Punchlines tend to come from misdirection or surprise rather than a good setup, or they make so little sense the only thing to do is laugh. The universe is irrational, so we just roll with it, using humor as a coping mechanism; a New York Times opinion piece argued that "Gen Z is cynical. They've earned it." We often use sarcasm to face uncertainty and blow air out our noses (the classic "internet laugh") at memes about the stresses our world is facing. Humor lets you sit with a thing without feeling like you're drowning in it—and these days, there's a lot to sit with.  Plus, equality and inclusion are no joke to us; absurd humor means that no one person or group is the butt of the laugh. It's just funny; it's not "making fun." Everyone can be in on it.  Humor is key if you're trying to engage Gen Z consumers, too—51 percent of Gen Z said brand accounts were one of their biggest influences when shopping. Brands are buying into increasingly ludicrous social media tactics, from unhinged mascots to customer-mocking "customer service," to win younger eyes. So while not everyone has to appreciate a "stonks" joke—it's a 2017-era meme of "stocks" misspelled, and yes, it's still hilarious—enhancing creativity can be one side of the triangle for driving company growth. That's something we can all smile at.   QUOTE US ON IT "'Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday?' At age 16, 18, or 20, people are largely saying yes. At age 23, the answer quickly becomes no—and we don't start laughing again until we retire. We go to work and we stop laughing." —Stanford faculty members Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas on the "humor cliff" that kicks in around the time you start your first job WAIT, DON'T SCROLL Is it safe? Creating a healthy space where employees feel seen is crucial. Here's an overview (and a chance for a deeper dive) if you're looking to improve your team's well-being. Junk causing a funk? While marathoning your favorite shows is tempting, there's an ugly tinge that comes with the binge—passive consumption fails to provide the social nourishment you need. Playfulness with friends, family, and coworkers can be more vital than it seems.  It's a bird, it's a plane … it's a dad joke. Humor can be a superpower in business—check out two Stanford lecturers' guide to exploiting the neuroscience of nuttiness.  NOT US; STILL GREAT Down the fun-way. Europe's largest airline makes a business of trolling its own customers online—and here's why that's hitting all the marks for Gen Z. [Washington Post] Are thumbs up? Much has been made of a suggestion that the thumbs-up emoji has been "cancelled" in the workplace—whether or not things are as drastic as all that, Gen Z definitely believes in "emoji nuance" with coworkers. [Insider] Source material. The internet is the supreme breeding ground for Gen Z humor, and we're soaking it all in. As the world's most digital audience, we spend two-thirds of our media time online. [What's New in Publishing] CAREERS Search our 500+ job openings On our Careers Blog, Brandon, a senior partner in DC, talks about why hiring the right people is one of the most crucial decisions our firm can make  Sign up for our free Careers Blog newsletter or 40+ other free alerts and newsletters How did the WORD cross the road? Your latest McKinsey Crossword: "Now You're Cooking!" 1-Across: With 52-Down, author of the cookbook whose title is in the shaded squares. Can you solve it? Get cooking  — Edited by Sarah Skinner, Gen Z curation editor, New York Subscribe Click to get this newsletter weekly BACKTALK Have feedback or other ideas? We'd love to hear from you.  Tell us what you think Follow our thinking McKinsey Insights - Get our latest thinking on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. This email contains information about McKinsey's research, insights, services, or events. By opening our emails or clicking on links, you agree to our use of cookies and web tracking technology. 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