I'm only joking!(?) the role of disparaging humor in the communicative constitution of inclusion/exclusion in organizations

Purpose The purpose of this article is to investigate the communicative constitution organizational inclusion and/or exclusion through humorous acts at expense members minorities historically disadvantaged groups. Design/methodology/approach Semistructured interviews with 84 employees in Austria and Germany dealing their experiences regarding diversity (D&I) work were conducted analyzed two steps. First, a thematic text analysis was performed structure content identify relevant themes anecdotes for further analysis. Second, ventriloquial sought physically absent yet present voices these anecdotes. Findings revealed that jokes quips mostly target colleagues observable foreign origin. identified three show disparaging humor can simultaneously reinforce inclusion/exclusion across hierarchies create boundaries within teams – but different ways. findings also indicate above all prejudices “participate” such events most cases collective invoked increase joke's “authority”. Originality/value This research first one investigates context D&I organization (CCO) lens, which facilitates studying constitutive character communication terms exclusion. Moreover, empirical studies draw on established theory-driven concepts inclusion-exclusion its