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This article compares the humour used in university and corporate training programmes and discusses survey implications. Based on a survey of 183 university business professors and 243 corporate trainers, both groups were found to use similar types of humour (e.g. short stories, exaggeration), have similar reasons for using humour (e.g. help trainees relax, keep training interesting), and use humour in similar settings (e.g. humour occurs in lectures most often). Based on survey results and a literature review, both groups should consider making their humour understandable, non‐coercive, and relevant to the training situation. University and corporate trainers should also listen to what types of humour can be students like. Practising humour can be a way to gain these humour skills.

Outlines the benefits of humour in the workplace. Briefly looks at the place of humour in advertising and the effect of it in areas such as attention, comprehension, persuasion and likeability. Discusses humour in the workplace and provides some suggestions for employers. Covers humour in training and concludes that modest investment in all these areas can bring benefits to the workplace.