Let’s face it: Open enrollment is not something that gets the pulse racing, unless you’re actively fleeing the fast- approaching HR person who would like to have a word about it. And there’s nothing inherently funny about it, just as there’s nothing inherently funny about complex periodontal work. Still, as open enrollment nears, HR tries yet again to conjure “fun” ideas to make communications more interesting and engaging. So while open enrollment is not exactly the stuff of (intentional) sketch comedy, why not try some humor?
First, we’d recommend changing the font to Comic Sans.
Theoretically this is a pretty good idea. Adding humor to an otherwise pretty grim process is certainly different, and to the extent that you’re able to achieve your minimal objective — actually being funny — sure, why not … but realize that it’s tricky. The workforce is made up of people from various backgrounds with different ethnicities, religious sensitivities and, perhaps most importantly, widely divergent views on what is and isn’t funny.
As someone who specializes in communications and dabbles in humor, let me suggest: If you’re entertaining the idea of imbuing your open enrollment messaging with comedic touches, don’t worry about the content — well, worry about that later. First, focus on matching the comedic form to the segment of your workforce that’s most likely to respond to content in that genre.
For more: https://www.worldatwork.org/workspan/articles/open-enrollment-it-s-funny-business-if-you-ask-me
This is probably not news – certainly not to me in my other life as a recreational tennis player: most of us hate losing more than we take satisfaction in winning or potential gain. If I leave the court with a decisive 2 set win, I’ll spend the next 24 hours playing the best points in my head…then move on with my life. If I’m on the losing end, it becomes an all-consuming obsession, eating at me like a rolling toxic heartburn. For days.
In business, loss aversion is perhaps most evident – and powerful – in the embrace of the status quo. Change, any kind and any degree, is risky. This is one of the biggest challenges a salesperson must overcome.
Averting loss doesn’t automatically mean playing it safe – it’s the sales rep’s job to make the terrifying prospect of missing out the safe play. For more, visit https://medium.com/@BackBoneInc/when-the-biggest-risk-is-playing-it-safe-306a3ac35f39
I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s farm no more No, I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s farm no more Well, I wake in the morning Fold my hands and pray for rain I got a head full of ideas That are drivin’ me insane It’s a shame the way she makes me scrub the floor I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s farm no more
Hard Day’s Night (Beatles)
It’s been a hard day’s night, and I been working like a dog It’s been a hard day’s night, I should be sleeping like a log But when I get home to you I’ll find the things that you do Will make me feel alright
Salt of the Earth (Rolling Stones)
Let’s drink to the hard working people Let’s drink to the lowly of birth Raise your glass to the good and the evil Let’s drink to the salt of the earth Say a prayer for the common foot soldier Spare a thought for his back breaking work Say a prayer for his wife and his children Who burn the fires and who still till the earth And when I search a faceless crowd A swirling mass of gray and Black and white They don’t look real to me In fact, they look so strange
Working Class Hero (John Lennon)
There’s room at the top they’re telling you still But first you must learn how to smile as you kill If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be A working class hero is something to be
Bellboy (The Who)
I’ve got a good job, and I’m newly born You should see me dressed up in my uniform I work in hotel, all gilt and flash Remember the place where the doors were smashed? Bell Boy, I got to get running now Bell Boy, keep my lip buttoned down Bell Boy, carry this baggage out Bell Boy, always running at someone’s pleading heel You know how I feel Always running at someone’s heel
Living For the City (Stevie Wonder)
His father works some days for fourteen hours And you can bet he barely makes a dollar His mother goes to scrub the floors for many And you’d best believe she hardly gets a penny
Raspberry Beret (Prince)
I was working part time in a five-and-dime My boss was Mr. McGee He told me several times that he didn’t like my kind ‘Cause I was a bit too leisurely
Rosalita (Bruce Springsteen)
And your papa says he knows that I don’t have any money Your papa says he knows that I don’t have any money Oh, your daddy says he knows that I don’t have any money Well, tell him this is his last chance to get his daughter in a fine romance ‘Cause a record company, Rosie, just gave me a big advance
Casey Jones (The Grateful Dead) Driving that train, high on cocaine, Casey Jones you better watch your speed Trouble ahead, trouble behind And you know that notion just crossed my mind This old engine makes it on time Leaves Central Station ’bout a quarter to nine Hits River Junction at seventeen two At a quarter to ten you know it’s travelin’ again
Bang the Drum All Day (Todd Rundgren) I don’t want to work I want to bang on the drum all day I don’t want to play I just want to bang on the drum all day.
Career Opportunities (The Clash) They offered me the office, offered me the shop They said I’d better take anything they’d got Do you wanna make tea at the BBC? Do you wanna be, do you really wanna be a cop? Career opportunities, the ones that never knock Every job they offer you is to keep you out the dock Career opportunities, the ones that never knock
Working in a Coal Mine (Devo) Workin’ in the coal mine Goin’ on down, down Workin’ in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down Workin’ in a coal mine Goin’ on down, down Workin’ in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down Five o’clock in the mornin’ I’m already up and gone Lord, I’m so tired How long can this go on?
Back on the Chain Gang (The Pretenders) I found a picture of you, oh oh oh oh What hijacked my world that night To a place in the past We’ve been cast out of? Oh oh oh oh Now we’re back in the fight We’re back on the train Oh, back on the chain gang
Desire (U2)
(More for the spirit – once the Day 1 excitement and buzz fade you’ll need a pick me up)
Lover, I’m off the streets I’m gonna go where the bright lights And the big city meet With a red guitar, on fire Desire
Working Man (Rush)
I get up at seven, yeah, and I go to work at nine. I got no time for livin’. Yes, I’m workin’ all the time.
It seems to me I could live my life a lot better than I think I am. I guess that’s why they call me, they call me the workin’ man.
Problems (Sex Pistols)
Eat your heart out on a plastic tray You don’t do what you want Then you’ll fade away You won’t find me working Nine to five It’s too much fun being alive
My Shot (Hamilton)
I am not throwing away my shot I am not throwing away my shot Hey yo, I’m just like my country I’m young, scrappy and hungry And I’m not throwing away my shot I’m ‘a get a scholarship to King’s College I prob’ly shouldn’t brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish The problem is I got a lot of brains but no polish I gotta holler just to be heard With every word, I drop knowledge I’m a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal Tryin’ to reach my goal my power of speech, unimpeachable Only nineteen but my mind is older These New York City streets get colder, I shoulder Every burden, every disadvantage I have learned to manage, I don’t have a gun to brandish I walk these streets famished The plan is to fan this spark into a flame But damn, it’s getting dark, so let me spell out the name I am the A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R we are meant to be
