Diversions March 18, 2010

A Little 'Madness' Can Boost Morale

It seems there are plenty of bosses who might not mind if you watch some NCAA March Madness in the office.
Reported by

An OfficeTeam survey found that 41% of managers said March Madness activities, such as watching game highlights and engaging in friendly competitions, can boost morale. On the other hand, 11% of manager said such activities can have a negative effect on morale.

In addition, a majority of respondents (56%) said March Madness activities do not affect productivity, and 22% believe the festivities actually boost workers’ output.     

“The NCAA basketball tournament is a common topic of conversation at the office as employees may share college allegiances,” said Robert Hosking, OfficeTeam executive director, in the release of the results. “As long as everyone remains a good sport, rooting for a favorite team should not affect morale or productivity.”     

Hosking pointed out that there are opportunities for managers to build camaraderie by organizing activities around March Madness.     

The survey was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,000 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees.

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