The jokes flowed thick and fast during the session on humour in harassment.
Some were harmless, while others went "well beyond a joke" said
Stuart Ainsworth, co-director at Strathclyde University’s equality and
discrimination centre.
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Being able to take a joke is seen as contributing to a healthy work
environment. "But surveys show that joking and witty remarks are among the
commonest forms of harassment," he said.
He argued that humour can be central to the most extreme cases of harassment
which can lead to loss of employment and even mental breakdown. "Even when
the joke is unpleasant or undermining it is still seen as "just a
joke".
