Can March Madness boost employee morale?
Posted on March 6th, 2013 Read time: 1 minutes
Taking the initiative to make employees happy can create a more productive workforce. Hosting fun events, sponsoring clubs and providing workers with opportunities to socialize are great ways to improve teamwork and stimulate workplace engagement. A recent study found embracing March Madness in the office may be another effective way of increasing employee performance.
In a survey of more than 1,000 managers, OfficeTeam, a staffing firm, determined one in five respondents said activities tied to the NCAA tournament improve employee morale at least somewhat. Only 4 percent of managers said these activities have a negative impact.
When asked how celebrating March Madness in the office affects worker productivity, 16 percent of managers said it had a somewhat or very positive effect.
"It's often better for managers to acknowledge the appeal of events like March Madness and provide opportunities for their staff to enjoy the festivities rather than ignore them," said OfficeTeam executive director Robert Hosking. "Employees need a chance to bond with coworkers over shared interests."
Group activities in general can fuel team building, Hosking added.
To effectively run March Madness or similar events in the workplace, OfficeTeam suggests HR administration professionals and managers allot time for employees to enjoy games, encourage friendly competition between coworkers and set the example of staying focused on work.
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Posted on March 6th, 2013 Read time: 1 minutes
Taking the initiative to make employees happy can create a more productive workforce. Hosting fun events, sponsoring clubs and providing workers with opportunities to socialize are great ways to improve teamwork and stimulate workplace engagement. A recent study found embracing March Madness in the office may be another effective way of increasing employee performance.
In a survey of more than 1,000 managers, OfficeTeam, a staffing firm, determined one in five respondents said activities tied to the NCAA tournament improve employee morale at least somewhat. Only 4 percent of managers said these activities have a negative impact.
When asked how celebrating March Madness in the office affects worker productivity, 16 percent of managers said it had a somewhat or very positive effect.
"It's often better for managers to acknowledge the appeal of events like March Madness and provide opportunities for their staff to enjoy the festivities rather than ignore them," said OfficeTeam executive director Robert Hosking. "Employees need a chance to bond with coworkers over shared interests."
Group activities in general can fuel team building, Hosking added.
To effectively run March Madness or similar events in the workplace, OfficeTeam suggests HR administration professionals and managers allot time for employees to enjoy games, encourage friendly competition between coworkers and set the example of staying focused on work.
