Pleasure Explained: Why Pretending Everything’s OK at Work Can Actually Hurt

Last update:December 17, 2024, 2:53 p.m. IST

This trend goes by many names: coffee badges, quiet cations, hushed hybrid work styles, and even hushed vacations.

Why joking is more dangerous than you think. (Representative image)

Have you ever had to fake a smile, even though everything inside you felt otherwise? This is called joking, a mix of “pleasant” and “presenteeism.” This happens when employees are expected to appear happy, even when they feel stressed or overwhelmed. Imagine yourself sitting in a meeting, pretending everything is fine, while inside you are struggling. That’s joking: acting happy when you really aren’t.

When companies push for a

-first environment, employees feel the need to act as if everything was perfect. This trend goes by many names: coffee badges, silences, hushed hybrid work styles and even silence

. All of these terms suggest the same idea: employees are hiding their true feelings, pretending everything is rosy when in reality it is not.

For example, imagine you’re on a video call where you’re supposed to be enthusiastic and nodding, even though you’re mentally exhausted. Or maybe you’re bombarded with invitations to team social activities, even though you’re feeling exhausted and just want to relax. This is the true cost of joking.

Maintaining a constant facade of happiness is exhausting. When you continually push away your true feelings, pretending to be someone you’re not, it starts to wear you down. You may notice that your productivity decreases or that you feel less engaged at work.

So what is the solution?

It’s not about completely getting rid of positivity in the workplace: that would be too extreme. But there is a better way: create a

where authenticity is valued.

Organizations need to move away from forced cheerfulness. Instead, they should encourage honest expression of emotions, without sacrificing professionalism. When employees can express their true feelings while maintaining a level of professionalism, they feel more supported. This leads to healthier, more sustainable workplaces that prioritize mental health and productivity.

If you’re wondering if you’re falling into the joke trap, here are five signs to watch for:

You say yes to everything, even if you don’t want to, because you’re afraid of disapproval.

You avoid disagreements at all costs, even if it means sacrificing your own opinion just to keep the peace.

You’re trying to climb the career ladder by saying what others want to hear.

You agree with the majority out of fear of being excluded or judged.

You try to work things out just to avoid conflict.