A study of how New Zealand IT workers use humour in the workplace has been published in the International Journal of Humor.

Barbara Plester, of The University of Auckland Business School, studied the role of humour in three New Zealand IT companies for a paper titled Taking the Piss: Functions of Banter in the IT Industry.

She found that joking and banter, which the study participants called ‘taking the piss’, is the main form of humour used by IT professionals, and it is highly prized by staff wanting a stimulating work environment.

Ms Plester says in an IT industry where skills are in high demand, fostering a fun culture can be an asset to attract and retain staff.

"These IT workers enjoyed humour that was slightly risqué and did not wish their workplace to be sanitized and become totally politically correct," Ms Plester says.

"Their banter stimulated the laughter they considered indispensable in offsetting the intense business activities that were required every day. It was essentially the oil through which workplace relationships were created and maintained."

Ms Plester observed that banter was initiated by subordinates more often than managers. It was non-stop, raucous and sometimes profane.

The study found the banter had clear functions including making a point; boredom busting; socialization; displaying culture; defining status and celebrating difference.

The banter typically highlighted age, ethnic and gender differences but rather than denigrate, appeared to emphasise and even celebrate diversity.

"People in these IT companies were very comfortable with their differences, pointed them out in their daily banter, and when questioned said they enjoyed this and did not find it offensive," she says.

However Ms Plester warned that if employees found themselves on the outside of banter, they risked being unfairly ostracised by their workmates.

"Teasing banter can be remarkably hurtful. The purpose of mocking banter is to deflate another’s ego and bring them to the same level as others, so if people do not feel included in the bantering it can go dreadfully wrong for the organisation."