Workplace Jokes Gone Bad Can Bring Legal Trouble
Some April Fool’s Day jokes just aren’t that funny. And some can result in legal trouble.
That’s the message from the Manpower Employment Blawg, which highlights several practical jokes that resulted in lawsuits, criminal charges and lost jobs. Among the jokes gone bad:
• A clothing store employee in Ohio called her manager on April Fool’s Day to report an armed robbery. By the time she called back to say, “April Fool’s,” police had been called. The manager was charged with unlawfully inducing panic.
• A Hooters manager in Florida promised a free Toyota in an employee contest, then awarded the winner a “toy Yoda” character from Star Wars. The manager claimed it was an April Fool’s joke; the employee sued and the case settled.
• One victim of a practical joke was charged with unlawful disposal of a dead animal after workplace pranksters tied a dead Chihuahua to his bumper and he drove off without seeing the carcass.
The blawg advises employers to let workers know that their jokes should never be based on race or gender, should never interfere with a person’s ability to do his or her job, and should never incorporate physical contact, weapons (real or otherwise), and damage to property or reputation.
