At my latest place of employment I had to sign a multi-page “ethics” statement. Part of it said that no jokes were allowed. I asked why and I was told by the HR manager that jokes might be offensive. The statement was more about not being offensive than it was about “ethics.”
HR manager?
I am old enough to remember when there were none. Managers did their own hiring. Until the law profession made it such a minefield that companies went CYA.
For most of my career, the entertainment business was a Free Speech Zone. No more. Say the wrong thing to the wrong protected class of person, risk getting fired and slapped with a lawsuit. Sad.
They should just say no talking whatsoever at work. just use email for all communication. See how well that will work out.