This paper explores subordinate listeners' response strategies to two especially ambiguous humour types -teasing and self-denigrating humour-, in a Hong Kong and a New Zealand workplace. Results show that by using and combining various response strategies, listeners manage sociality rights and do face-work. As the strategies clearly differ according to workplace, it is suggested one also has to take into account both the wider socio-cultural context and the specific norms and practices of the interlocutors’ communities of practice.