OFFICE PRANKS FOR APRIL FOOLS' DAY?: They May Be No Joking Matter, Survey Suggests

OFFICE PRANKS FOR APRIL FOOLS' DAY?: They May Be No Joking Matter, Survey
Suggests

MENLO PARK, Calif., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Employees tempted to fill the
boss's office with balloons or plant whoopee cushions in their coworkers'
chairs this April Fools' Day may want to think twice. Seven out of 10 (71
percent) marketing executives polled by The Creative Group consider April
Fools' jokes unsuitable for the office. The responses were more evenly split
among advertising executives, with about half (51 percent) finding workplace
pranks appropriate versus 45 percent who gave a thumbs down.
The national study was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized
staffing service providing marketing, advertising, creative and web
professionals on a project basis, and conducted by an independent research
firm. It is based on 250 telephone interviews -- 125 with advertising
executives randomly selected from the nation's 2,000 largest advertising
agencies and 125 with senior marketing executives randomly selected from the
nation's 2,000 largest companies.
Advertising and marketing executives were asked, "How appropriate do you
think it is to play April Fools' jokes in the office?" Their responses:
Marketing Advertising
Executives Executives
Very appropriate 2 % 10 %
Somewhat appropriate 27 % 41 %
Not very appropriate 33 % 22 %
Not at all appropriate 38 % 23 %
Don't know 0 % 4 %
100 % 100 %

"When it comes to April Fools' jokes or other office pranks, employees
should know their audience and use good judgment," said Megan Slabinski,
executive director of The Creative Group. "Company cultures differ
significantly, so what is viewed as light-hearted fun in one environment may
be frowned upon in another."
For workers who decide to flex their funny bone, Slabinski advised
treading carefully. "A distasteful or mean-spirited joke can easily damage
someone's professional reputation, coworker relationships and career
prospects," she said. "Above all, humor should be inclusive and well
intentioned. If a prank is disruptive or could be seen as going too far, avoid
it."
The Creative Group has offices in major markets across the United States
and in Canada, and offers online job search services at
http://www.creativegroup.com.
SOURCE The Creative Group

Julie Sims of The Creative Group, +1-650-234-6104,
julie.sims@creativegroup.com