The NCAA tournament is just around the corner and the offices are abuzz with friendly banter and shouts of team loyalty. Along with plenty of excitement and new bragging rights among colleagues, March Madness spawns a torrid fear of lost productivity in the workplace.
Although precise numbers are incredibly difficult to pin down in such cases, Challenger relocation firm Gray & Christmas estimated in a 2008 press release that lost productivity during the tournament could cost companies an estimated $1.7 billion each year. While these numbers are seen as an estimate only, and in some opinions a greatly expanded estimate, it would be foolish to think that there is not a significant impact on time and productivity over the duration of the tournament.
While an employer’s first reaction may be to try to limit March Madness-related activities in the workplace, there are definitely a few things to consider before taking any action against tournament participation. First, employees may view the denial of participation as overbearing and in opposition to a fun work environment.
Employee morale is crucial to productivity and therefore it would seem counterintuitive for employers hoping to maintain a high level of productivity to discourage participation in an activity considered to be a sports vacation. Rather than discourage participation and risk an unhappy office, consider using March Madness to your advantage. There are many different ways an employer or manager could use the NCAA tournament as a way to improve employee morale and create a stronger sense of camaraderie throughout the workplace:
1. Create online support for the entire office.
Create a bracket on a website like ESPN.com or Yahoo! Sports would eliminate the need to create, hand out, and complete paper brackets. Encourage people to enter only if they choose, and if employees would like to enter for competitive purposes, we suggest that the money go to a charity or non-profit organization of the winner’s choosing.
2. Offer small, fun and/or personalized prizes for the top finishers.
An established prize would not only encourage friendly competition and participation, but also help discourage illegal gambling in the workplace. Some examples of appropriate rewards might include gift certificates, a favorite team souvenir, or perhaps a meal on a supervisor’s account.
3. Offer flexible hours and dress code assignments when appropriate.
A possible solution to the distraction of an early night game could be a flexible work week. Also, since Fridays are often considered a more casual day in the workplace, employees could be encouraged to wear a tie, t-shirt, or even socks to show where their hopes and loyalties lie within the tournament.
4. Encourage watching the tournament as a group
Many workplaces assign short breaks throughout the day. Encourage employees to meet in front of the TV in the break room (or on a single designated computer so as not to take up too much bandwidth) during those times. You could even promote a potluck lunch, catering, or group gatherings after work to watch the game together.
5. Designate times to stay engaged and keep the competition alive.
A bi-weekly email or brief announcement at the end of an informal meeting about updated results would help discourage employees from constantly following up on supports at work and would also help the manager or supervisor stay engaged.
While this list is not exhaustive, here are some simple ways to take what is consistently seen as a drag on productivity and turn it into a way to promote a healthier and more enjoyable work environment. For more information or any questions, please contact Staff One at 1-800-771-7823 or visit http://www.staffone.com.