A recent study published in the Academy of Management Journal highlights how excessive humor from bosses can negatively impact employee job satisfaction. Conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and LSE, the research showed that when managers forced humor into their interactions, employees experienced emotional exhaustion and increased levels of 'surface acting'. Consequently, this drained their morale and job satisfaction. The findings suggest that authenticity in leadership may be more effective than trying to be humorous, as employees responded better to genuine interactions rather than forced jokes.
Employees paired with managers instructed to use humor reported increased levels of surface acting—pretending to find their boss funny—which led to emotional exhaustion and job dissatisfaction.
The study shows that a boss trying too hard to be funny can drain emotional energy and negatively impact employee morale, revealing the importance of authenticity in leadership.
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