Why Does Your Boss ‘Joke’ About Firing You And Then Actually Do It?

The use of jokes and humor by managers towards their workers in American workplaces can be viewed as an indication of a relaxed work environment.

However, the informal approach can become ambiguous in situations where critical issues, such as job security, are discussed using jokes. In some cases, a worker may be told by a manager that he or she would get fired through a joke, only to realize later on that the joke was not just that.

Such a situation presents a dilemma for the employee in distinguishing whether a joke is really just that.

What researchers call boundary blurring

According to experts, the described conduct can be characterized as “boundary blurring,” which involves mixing private and professional aspects in interactions without distinct boundaries. In this regard, it encompasses such activities as informal communication, the disclosure of personal information, or making jokes related to professional issues like dismissal.

This way, while such an approach creates an atmosphere of intimacy, it may be accompanied by the absence of clarity for subordinates regarding what kind of message the supervisor communicates to them. Such a situation results in undermining the hierarchical structure that helps workers to function effectively at work.

Why employees feel caught off guard

On a superficial level, a blurred boundary might be viewed as something advantageous, since it would allow employees to experience more familiarity with their managers and a better feeling of well-being in the workplace.

Indeed, a number of PubMed sources claim that individuals who participate in informal communication with their managers usually perceive themselves as more supported and find them to be more attractive as people.

But it is precisely that kind of atmosphere which allows one's expectations to be violated unexpectedly. For instance, joking about getting fired might suddenly turn out to be true for someone who felt safe due to his or her friendly atmosphere with a manager.

Such a change in expectations creates a feeling of betrayal on the employees' side.

The role of workplace culture

In work environments where managers are encouraged to operate in a manner similar to that of friends, this form of communication tends to become normalized. In such work environments, humor on serious issues might be considered innocent and might have some meaning beyond the joke.

According to the same source, when boundary crossing starts to happen frequently, workers start taking mixed messages concerning what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. This, in turn, makes workers feel uncertain about their job security and the performance requirements.

This means that, eventually, the workers end up trusting each other less due to uncertainty regarding the interpretation of the boss's message. Getting fired is already an ordeal on its own; however, getting fired after a period of joking or casualness from the boss makes it even more traumatizing for employees who feel confused, embarrassed, and a sense of loss of self-confidence.

According to the article on PubMed, such situations can be traumatic and make the employee feel stressed and worried, as they do not know what to expect from the boss the next day. They start protecting themselves because of this uncertainty.

Here, we should also pay attention to the fact that the trauma in this case is associated with the betrayal of trust in the workplace rather than just being fired from the job.

Why clear communication matters

It is highlighted in studies that communication plays a crucial role in helping to avoid misunderstandings within the organizational setup. If managers ensure that there is clarity in communication and they stick to professional aspects while addressing issues related to work performance and other matters, then workers will be able to have an idea about their situation.

According to the same study, another way to ensure that workers will not face confusion in the workplace is that serious topics should be handled seriously and clearly.

The seemingly innocent joke could have a profound effect on how an employee sees his or her work environment. Blurring the boundary is not always going to result in undesirable results; however, when this is done with serious issues such as termination, the dangers become quite real.

This is important because it will help us see why some situations at work tend to be more difficult than they might seem at first glance.