Humor at Axelerant
Axelerant encourages being our authentic selves and demonstrates Enthusiasm, Kindness, and Openness as core values in all conversations. And we especially appreciate sensitive and responsible humor that brings people together.
We trust our people to make conscious and informed choices while sharing humor on Slack, Social Media, and other public-facing channels. However, we don’t always know what troubles others.
We must remember that what we don’t consider sensitive could be a painful trigger for others. Being aware of our audience and conscious of the impact of current events upon them is wise. When in doubt, act on the side of kindness and be quiet.
Trust and Thoughtfulness
We trust our team members to make conscious and informed choices when sharing humor on Slack, social media, or other public platforms. However, it's important to recognize that what may seem light-hearted to one person could feel deeply uncomfortable or triggering to another.
When in doubt, choose kindness—and consider listening instead of joking.
Let’s talk about what’s not funny at work.
Skip jokes that disrespectfully separate you from those you work with.
Avoid jokes about sex, gender, religion, stereotypes, politics, and other inappropriate workplace topics.
Refrain from jokes about topics and events that are still in the headlines or trending on social media. Your audience might be personally affected by that topic or feel it’s too soon to laugh.
What to do when humor crosses the line
Humor can be subjective, but its impact can be hurtful. With the help of the following questions, you may decide where and when to put your foot down with the jokes shared by team members.
Identify whether it’s harmful.
Does it align with Axelerant’s culture?
When one of your team members makes jokes that run counter to Being Axelerant, it’s time to discuss those values and expectations of team members.
Because inappropriate humor that contradicts Axelerant culture and values can raise Safe Space concerns, it’s crucial to inform the People Operations team for guidance.
Does it impact the larger diverse groups at Axelerant?
When a joke violates Safe Space or discriminates against others–it’s not worth sharing.
Beyond the risk that out-of-bounds employee humor can create over the long term, it can also directly impact the performance of teammates and other employees. Addressing this may require a conversation between you, the team member whose humor is causing the problem, and the People Operations team about how to proceed.
If You See or Hear Something Concerning
If a post or message feels misaligned with Axelerant’s culture or values:
Reach out directly and kindly: If you feel safe, connect with the person who shared it. Let them know why it may be problematic or upsetting. Often, awareness alone leads to understanding and a positive outcome.
Encourage action: The person can choose to edit or remove the content to minimize harm.
If needed, escalate respectfully: If the issue continues or feels unsafe to address directly, please raise a Safe Space Concern or contact the People Operations team for support and next steps.
We aim to maintain an environment where everyone feels safe, seen, and respected—including when we laugh.
Reference