What's wrong with banter?

The amount of time spent in the workplace with work colleagues should be fun, productive and certainly not harmful to the mental well being of an individual. Often banter helps to create that environment to form connections with each other that help to build relationships where teams and individuals work well together.

So what’s wrong with a bit of banter? Most of us would say it is harmless fun, especially if it creates a fun place to work and create a cohesive team. Yet, it is often the cause of employees leaving a business, individuals feeling demotivated enough to raise grievances,breakdown in good relationships and worse still is the detrimental effect on a person’s mental wellbeing.

Banter is fun and harmless when it is does not offend others and it is not highlighting a difference in someone’s characteristics or identification. Employers can help themselves by implementing policies on what is not acceptable banter, perhaps include it within your anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies. In addition, create a culture where it’s ok to raise a concern if someone feels the banter was inappropriate and for it then to be dealt with informally and respectfully without fear of retribution. Training sessions are good practice and do not have to be expensive and help to embed the policies. Discussions on what is appropriate levels of banter can take place within a team meeting thus allowing individuals to share what levels they find acceptable and are how banter can helpful to create a well connected, happy team.