What was everyone's work joke today?
Today I announced on the company wide Slack channel that, effectively immediately, we were rolling back to Windows XP. There were cheers! and then a lot of disappointment when I said it was just April fools Lmao
I personally don't think April fools jokes should take place in a professional environment. Between friends and family, sure, as long as they're harmless but not at work.
Sorry, but that just sounds like a dreadfully boring workplace, workplaces should have some fun and humor. Like a light joke on slack. I do draw the line at productivity killing crap, like filling someones entire office with balloons or something
In my mind, there's a big difference between a quick one liner or a silly dad joke than an April fools "joke".
April fools you try and trick someone into something. Like telling someone their socks are untied. It's rude to the person who you're trying to trick and they don't feel good after. If someone believed you're rolling back to XP only to be told "haha, JK" it's almost rude... And these are the "nice" ones. Flipping a website upside down or filling an office with balloons.. What?
Jokes should be fun for everyone. April fools is not.
Kinda sounds like you have your own definition of what constitutes an "April Fools joke" and your are assigning negative connotations to it. I don't think that's an objective fact.
"April Fools is not [fun for everyone]" is an opinion more than a fact. I don't think anyone disagrees with your underlying premise that mean spirited "jokes" don't belong in the workplace, but rather your assertion that it's a prerequisite for April Fools jokes to be mean spirited.
Also, if we are going to bring the level of scrutiny to all jokes that you are bringing... I don't think it is even possible to design a "joke" that would pass your test.
You're right, but I'd use the word 'trick' over the word joke. There is no trick that would pass my scrutiny to be okay at work, that's why I replied the way I did.
Jokes like one liners or what stand up comedians do are usually more acceptable in my eyes. I have yet to see a joke used for April fools. If you have an example please share and I might do it next year.
In the end, I really don't care, if the joke/trick lands and no one was upset then take the win. You know your environment and are making it a better place.
Got any etchings you'd like to show us?
Hate to get in the way of maximizing shareholder value