To laugh or not to laugh? That seems to be the question. With every article on workplace stress comes another recommendation for including more humor on the job. However, there is corresponding research showing that office humor may lead to such negative repercussions as sexual harassment charges. In 1980 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published the guidelines that define sexual harassment as "Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature" (Rutter, 1997, p. 10). These guidelines also define harassment as the creation of a hostile or intimidating working environment; it is such an environment that serves as the basis for numerous work-related lawsuits. The EEOC classifies unwelcome behavior into seven forms, and according to a U. S. Merit Systems Protection Board study, the most frequent form cited includes "sexual teasing, jokes, remarks, or questions" (Rutter, 1997, p. 11).