Laughter: The New Bottom Line in the Workplace

by Trevor Smith, M.Ed, CLL
May 24, 2013

Trevor Smith is the Founder of Laugh For No Reason, a Springfield, MA based organization dedicated to helping people become healthier and more productive by using more laughter and humor in our lives.  As a speaker, workshop facilitator, and Certified Laughter Leader, Trevor conducts workshops and presentations for companies, colleges and universities, and community organizations. For more information go to laughforyourhealth.com. I asked Trevor to submit this article because I have seen first-hand and on more than one occasion, the healing power of laughter and Trevor’s expertise in this relatively new field. I hired him to help inspire my workforce to greater teamwork and creativity. He exceeded my expectations in every way.)
We live in increasingly stressful times. The terms “Stress Related Illness” and “Burnout” are now common words in describing the workplace experience. An epidemic of stress is blamed for high absenteeism and an increase in sick days. The Health and Safety Commission reports that last year 64 million days were lost due to employee illness, an increase of nearly 100% from a decade ago. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that up to 90% of all doctors’ visits may be a result of stress related illness. As a result of these findings, more and more organizations are looking for innovative strategies to keep their employees healthy, happy, and productive.
Until recently, organizations frowned upon the idea of laughter at work, seeing it as a sign of unprofessionalism or not taking work seriously. However, research shows that all of this seriousness and stress is negatively impacting the bottom line. In fact, studies show that the most productive people are those who take their jobs seriously, while taking themselves lightly.  As a result, companies around the world are finding that laughter wellness programs have an immediate and positive impact on their business, including the bottom line.

Organizations that have adopted regular laughter wellness sessions into their work routine report a happier workplace, with more efficient teamwork, better job performance, improved communication, more creativity, and increased productivity. A good example of this is a study by a Canadian financial firm that found managers who scored the highest in overall employee performance used laughter and humor most often.

Scientific research is proving that laughter is an integral part of physical and emotional well being. Dr. William Fry of Stanford University found that laughing 200 times burns off the same amount of calories as ten minutes on a rowing machine. Other studies indicate that laughing reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, increases heart rate and oxygen flow, strengthens the immune system, and triggers the release of endorphins, our body’s natural painkillers.  It is also important to mention that laughter is much more beneficial in groups rather than alone. In a group, you have laughter, happiness, and social connection – a kind of social glue that brings people together and builds community.

More and more organizations are recognizing the benefits of laughter. What I have found in working with groups over the years is that they are filled with very creative people who just need permission to laugh and find their “Inner Child.”  Allowing people to let their hair down not only results in a healthier workplace, but creates positive working relationships that benefit everyone.

http://www.laughterlinks.com/news/free_articles/Giggles.htm http://www.workplaceissues.com/arhumor.htm http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2011/111409_1.html

http://humanresources.about.com/od/stressandtimemanagement/a/laughter.htm