Are You Just “too Sensitive” About Office Humor?

Humor is human – and humor can serve as a way for colleagues to bond or relieve stress. Done right, humor in the workplace can create a positive atmosphere for everyone.

However, there’s a line between lighthearted banter and harmful, degrading remarks – and what one person finds funny may actually be abusive. This is particularly true when sexual harassment in the workplace is disguised as “jokes.” When the victim tries to speak up, they’re often told they’re simply being “too sensitive.”

The “It’s just a joke” excuse

Imagine this scenario: During a team meeting, a female worker spills coffee on her shirt and a male coworker makes a suggestive comment about how she should take off her shirt and give “everyone a view.” While some of the others laugh uncomfortably, the woman feels deeply embarrassed. When she expresses her feelings to her co-worker or boss in private after the meeting, however, she’s brushed off with a comment like, “It was just a joke. You can’t seriously be that sensitive! Lighten up!”

This sort of response trivializes their feelings and discourages them from speaking up about subsequent incidents, essentially encouraging or enabling the behavior to continue. In heavily male-dominated fields, the equivalent excuse is usually, “It’s just locker room talk,” which is equally dismissive and invalidating of the other person’s experience.

Here’s the reality: Jokes are supposed to be funny for everybody involved. If they’re making someone a target and the target feels uncomfortable or hurt, they’re not funny at all.

You’re not too sensitive. Sexual harassment never has to be tolerated in the workplace. If you’ve been victimized and your concerns dismissed, it may be time to seek legal assistance.