No Harm, No Foul?

Most Managers Neutral on Impact of March Madness Activities on Employee Morale, Productivity

TORONTO, March 2, 2016 /CNW/ - March Madness activities at work are less of a slam dunk for increasing morale and productivity, new research from staffing firm OfficeTeam suggests. Seventy-six per cent of senior managers interviewed said festivities tied to the college basketball playoffs have no impact one way or the other on employee morale. Nearly one in five (18 per cent) see some advantages to letting staff celebrate their favourite teams, down from 58 per cent one year ago. Managers were also less inclined to see productivity benefits.

In a separate survey, 36 per cent of office workers polled said they are distracted at work by major sports events. This is up from 20 per cent five years ago.

Senior managers were asked, "Do you feel March Madness 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:

	2016	2015
Very positive	3%	19%
Somewhat positive	15%	39%
No impact	76%	28%
Somewhat negative	4%	4%
Very negative	1%	1%
Don't know	1%	8%
	100%	99%*

Senior managers were also asked, "Do you feel March Madness activities in the workplace have a positive or negative impact on employee productivity?" Their responses:

	2016	2015
Very positive	1%	12%
Somewhat positive	26%	25%
No impact	65%	35%
Somewhat negative	3%	10%
Very negative	1%	4%
Don't know	3%	14%
	99%*	100%

*Responses do not total 100 per cent due to rounding.

Workers were asked, "Are you ever distracted from your work by major sporting events?" Their responses:

	2016	2011
Yes	36%	20%
No	64%	80%
	100%	100%

"Although celebratory activities related to sporting or entertainment events might be regarded as workplace distractions, with the right approach as a company, productivity doesn't have to tank as a result of their use," said Koula Vasilopoulos, a district president for OfficeTeam. "Enjoyed in moderation, occasions such as March Madness allow employees the opportunity to take a break, connect over shared passions and return with a sense of satisfaction, which in the long run enhances both loyalty and motivation."

OfficeTeam highlights some do's and don'ts when celebrating March Madness at work:

Don't	Do
Make a game-time decision.	Let your boss know in advance if you'd like to take time off to enjoy the tournament so he or she can manage workloads.
Step out of bounds.	Find out company policies on employee breaks, personal Internet use, workplace decorations and sports attire.
Run out the clock.	Take quick breaks to check scores or talk about games with colleagues, if allowed, but stay on top of your work responsibilities.
Be offensive.	Cheer on your favorite team without getting overly competitive.
Sit on the sidelines.	Join in on activities with coworkers to build camaraderie even if you're not a sports fan.

About the Research
The surveys were developed by OfficeTeam and conducted by an independent research firm. They include responses from more than 300 senior managers at Canadian companies with 20 or more employees in 2015 and 2016, more than 500 Canadian workers 18 years or older and employed in office environments in 2016, and more than 1,000 Canadian workers 18 years or older and employed in office environments in 2011.

About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam, a Robert Half company, is the nation's leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 300 locations worldwide. For more information, including online job search services, visit officeteam.ca. Follow @RobertHalf_CAN on Twitter and the OfficeTeam Take Note^® blog for additional workplace advice and hiring trends.

SOURCE OfficeTeam

Image with caption: "Game-time in the workplace. (CNW Group/OfficeTeam)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160302_C4188_PHOTO_EN_633050.jpg

Naz Araghian, 416.865.2140, [email protected]