'He Shoots, He Scores' -- Survey Gives Green Light to Stanley Cup Activities
at Work

TORONTO, April 13 /CNW/ - In coming months, team spirit at the office may be more about whose favourite team is in the Stanley Cup playoffs than how well coworkers collaborate. OfficeTeam recently asked more than 300 managers whether playoff activities, such as watching game highlights or engaging in friendly competitions, affect morale and productivity. Fifty-six per cent of those surveyed felt the NHL playoffs have a positive effect on employee morale. Three out of four managers (75 per cent) also said Stanley Cup activities do not hinder productivity, and 31 per cent of respondents believed the festivities actually boost workers' output.

The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 300 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees.

Managers were asked, "Do you feel Stanley Cup playoff-related activities in the workplace, such as watching games or participating in pools that don't involve money, have a positive or negative impact on employee morale?" Their responses:

    
        Very positive................................ 19%
        Somewhat positive............................ 37%
        No impact.................................... 28%
        Somewhat negative............................  2%
        Very negative................................  4%
        Don't know/no answer......................... 10%
                                                     -----
                                                     100%

    Managers also were asked, "Do you feel Stanley Cup playoff-related
activities in the workplace have a positive or negative impact on employee
productivity?" Their responses:

        Very positive................................  8%
        Somewhat positive............................ 23%
        No impact.................................... 44%
        Somewhat negative............................ 11%
        Very negative................................  4%
        Don't know/no answer......................... 10%
                                                     -----
                                                     100%
    

"The Stanley Cup playoffs are a common topic of conversation at the office as hockey plays such a major role in Canada's identity," said OfficeTeam executive director Robert Hosking. "As long as everyone remains a good sport, rooting for a favourite team should not affect morale or productivity."

Hosking pointed out that there are opportunities for managers to build camaraderie by organizing activities around the playoffs -- an informal lunch or dinner at a sports bar to watch a big game, for example. "There's no question the excitement generated by major sporting events can be a distraction at work," he said. "However, it can be a healthy diversion if employers encourage team-building activities tied to the games."

    
    About OfficeTeam
    ----------------
    

OfficeTeam is a leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 325 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com. For more career and workplace advice, follow OfficeTeam at www.twitter.com/officeteam.

For further information: OFFICETEAM, Suite 820, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5J 2T3, Contact: Kristie Perrotte, [phone], [email protected]