If Laughter is Healthy, Why Aren't We All OK?

We all need to laugh at work. But is it okay to laugh at work? And about work? High-profile incidents like the Will Smith slap and the Dave Chapelle Netflix controversy have the corporate world talking about the role of humor in the workplace, the definition of "funny" and whether or not humor can be instrumental in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI.)

In a hilarious yet at times controversial presentation, renowned business humorist and award-winning Chicago Tribune humor columnist Greg Schwem challenges his audience to realize that curtailing humor in the workplace also stifles creativity, teamwork, and employee wellness. For those who say, “we aren’t a funny company” or “this isn’t a good time for us to be laughing,” Greg disagrees. He also offers tips on how to alleviate hostile situations that may arise when a joke goes "too far" or employees of different generations disagree on what's funny versus what's offensive. Earn credits while laughing the entire time!