The Organization Joker: A Modern Court Jester

Abstract

In every workplace where I have undertaken research, I have identified a specific person (or persons) whom I call the joker. This person assumes the role of a humour specialist in an organization, department or work team and makes it their business to create humour (and fun) at work. They are usually skilled at knowing when, where and what types of humour to use in different situations. This chapter investigates the role of the joker and suggests that the modern organizational joker plays a similar role to that of the traditional court jester of mediaeval times. This role is voluntarily adopted by skilled humour-users but does have some repercussions for the jokers’ organizational advancement. Adopting the role of the joker gives this person the ability to push the humour boundaries a little further than other organizational members and they get away with humour that might be considered offensive if created or enacted by someone else. The joker can only assume this role if he or she is well-integrated with the group and understands the social practices and norms of the group. The chapter concludes by discussing the opposing role to the joker, that of the gatekeeper, who limits and constrains humour in order to maintain organizational propriety and professionalism. Gatekeepers may be self-appointed and the role may be assumed by long-term staff who try to mitigate issues. Alternatively gatekeepers are those with official organizational power and authority who feel a responsibility to ensure humour does not cross the line and cause offence or bring the organization into disrepute.