[coyote]

You're trying to make this far more complicated than it needs to be.

1. It doesn't matter who's house the game is at.

2. If you feel that rules need to be posted, keep them general. I mean you can't have paragraphs detailing multiple examples and what they mean. i.e. if joke "a" is told and manager "b" laughs it means "x" but if he shrugs his shoulders it means "y"

3. I think it's simple. If these kinds of problems are coming up, the managers just plain do not belong there any more. It's just an unfortunate fact of the work world. If that is not a possibility, simply post a rule that for everyone's protection and enjoyment, no "shop" talk is allowed. You're much better off making it cut and dried rather than allowing gray areas.

4. If someone was a peer and was promoted to manager of other players, well I guess he needs to take his new position seriously and decide if he should play in the game anymore.