Dive Brief:
- While employers may worry about events like March Madness being a distraction in the office, allowing workers to enjoy sports-related activities for even a few minutes can be time well spent, according to OfficeTeam. Staff will appreciate the opportunity to bond with colleagues and return to their desks rejuvenated, according to Brandi Britton, a district president for the company.
- On average, employees will spend about six hours of work time (25.5 minutes per day for 15 days) on activities related to the college basketball playoffs, an OfficeTeam survey shows.
- Male employees and those age 18 to 34 spend the most time on tournament-related activities at work, the survey revealed. Checking game scores and team rankings and sports talk are the most common workplace behaviors around major sporting attractions, according to senior managers.
Dive Insight:
March Madness, like the Winter Olympics, Oscars and other popular cultural events, can be opportunities for employees to engage in friendly competition and bond with each other over non-work-related activities. It's a good opportunity for employees to get to know each other as people with personal interests and hobbies, not just as coworkers. Slight productivity dips may be worth the payoff.
In workplaces that cultivate trust, employers can expect employees to balance their workloads with extra activities in the office associated with popular events. But before March Madness begins, managers can remind employees to be respectful of coworkers who don't want to participate; limit activities to designated areas of the workplace; and remind workers to ensure that priority tasks are completed.
