[micromacrofoot]

Since it's included with "gossip" I assume it's to avoid insulting people (intentionally or accidentally), but suggesting that humor is off limits entirely is an outrageous over-correction.

Ironically I think the author has included an incredibly divisive opinion in a post about being less divisive, and has therefore dissolved any authority on the matter.

[DoreenMichele]

It didn't suggest any such thing though. It said joke and laugh less. It didn't forbid them.

Humor that doesn't offend can be hard to pull off. If you crack jokes regularly, odds are high some of them will be offensive.

Most people are quick to assume you are laughing at them, not with them. So if you are laughing a lot at work, odds are good someone will take that as mocking, as disrespect, as you not being adequately serious about the job.

If you are careful with humor, you can do good things with it. People who joke habitually are probably not being careful with it.

[jimmyjazz14]

Sounds like maybe you need some new coworkers because where I work we laugh and joke around all the time and nobody ever gets offended (or offers offense).