2 Mudcat safety rules for jokes:

1. Show respect for your nation, corporation, gender and family.
2. Do Not Offend, anybody including company, boss or authority.

Keep in mind, too, that social media is not a place to share complaints. I recently saw a tweet from someone who “spent 15 years in soul-sucking Big Pharma.” Future employers or clients would likely pass on that individual, even if he or she had a perfectly good reason for having that sentiment. The fact is that every word about an employer should be positive, even in casual environments like social media or a networking happy hour–it’s just the more cowardly strategic move.

Do not offend. If a joke is about dogs, cats, crumpets and butter you are on safe ground. You already know it’s important to be a team player, which means speaking respectfully to your colleagues. But it’s sometimes difficult to put that knowledge into practice, especially the more familiar and casual your team becomes. If you get a laugh at someone’s expense, you’re already on dangerous terrain.

UK Exceptions: Jokes about genitals, wives, husbands, age, other religions, other philosophies, other races and nations.