Humor is a potent stress buster. It would be rare to be one of Fortune’s "100 Best Companies to Work For" and not score well on the fun question. It enhances communication and builds social bonds that help people through the tough times. Workplace fun has been linked to: Enhanced motivation Increased productivity Reduced stress Higher job satisfaction Improved task performance Is there a little lump of dread growing in your stomach? 2 Shares If your office is the quiet, calm, buttoned-up type of place, then you're not getting the most out of your job-- and your work output isn't the best it could be. An excited Kirt Womack of the Thiokol factory in Utah sprinted into his manager’s office on the first day of spring and asked if the folks on the factory floor could do something fun -- say, head outside and fly paper airplanes -- if they met their quota two hours early. The Case for Levity And in the long run, all of this can have a positive impact on your organization’s bottom line — and on your career. Most of us would be a bit nervous about writing, “I’m great fun” on our CVs, or reporting to our boss how much fun we’re having in the office. Hobbies and other fun activities provide a fun way to sharpen skills, express your creativity, or just blow off steam. Now, a skeptic will ask, “Are successful companies just more fun to be in, since they are winning and profitable, or does fun create success?” It’s the old, “which came first, the chicken or the egg” question. At the “good” companies -- those that apply for inclusion but do not make the top 100 -- only 62 employees out of 100 say they are having fun. "In other words, when companies make the leap from good to great, they must start addressing sophisticated trust issues. Organizations that nourish creativity and playfulness in employees have less difficulty … The kind of joyous, playful, break-the-tension fun they engaged in is taking place all around the world in organizations that care about performance, retention and profitability. Why Fun is Important Simply put, fun sells. Just taking a walk together in the middle of the day, having an impromptu office party, or enjoying a sweet treat together can be enough to bring coworkers together and make the workday more fun. Retaining your starting lineup. If people are having fun, they’re going to work harder, stay longer, maintain their composure in a crisis and take better care of the organization. My suggestion is to determine when you work best (morning, afternoon) and then do the tough work … Some of the benefits of playing on the job include: – Higher recruitment and retention rates. Why Fun At Work is Important Fun At Work Sells. As humans, we are social creatures that need a little fun to cope with the daily stressors that we face. But to compare, the leverage increase from the good companies up to the best on the friendliness question is just 11.25 percent. The five ideas below are a good jumping off point for creating a culture that incorporates fun. And, all companies should be wondering how to have more fun. “In fact, it would be very unusual for a company to be among the ‘100 Best’ and not score well on the fun question.” An increasing body of research demonstrates that when leaders lighten up and create a fun workplace, there is a significant increase in the level of employee trust, creativity and communication -- leading to lower turnover, higher morale and a stronger bottom line. This can … Instead of working on Fun at Work Day make it a time for everyone to come in and have fun. It makes people want to perform well at work and be a contributing member of their team. Fun and work sometimes are at opposite poles in some people’s minds, but they don’t have to be. If your employees are having the fun sucked out of them at work, then you shouldn’t be surprised if they don’t give you their best. Workplace fun has been linked to: Having fun is one way of effectively managing and improving employees’ emotions. 4. Your whole career will thank you for i… Having engaging workspaces for … If the management team has been a stick in the mud about having fun at work it’s time to turn things around. Tech companies have become pioneers in the “fun at work” field, as they’ve found there are plenty of benefits in having a strong company culture. HR/Benefits Why Workspace is So Critical to Employee's Success An average person spends one-third of their life at work. What’s the first thought that crosses your mind as you shut the car door behind you and make your way to the office? The concept of having fun at work as opposed to taking everything very seriously is a relatively new one in today’s world. By continuing, you agree to Monster's privacy policy, terms of use and use of cookies. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. By 3 p.m., they’d surpassed 150 percent. What’s better than attracting new talent? In fact, employees who strongly agree with that statement are extremely likely -- a rock-solid 0.61 correlation -- to also reply positively to the statement, “Taking everything into account, I would say this is a great place to work.” Jul 3, 2019 10:00 AM. Stress can contribute to lower productivity—but it doesn’t just affect your performance at work. As understandable as it is to do that – don’t do it. Not sure what type of celebration appeals to your employees? I firmly believe that positive and fun team cultures create success! No matter how cool your co-workers are, or how nice your cubicle is, if you don’t have the right job, you’re not going to have fun. Reconciling Humor with Respect. Fun company cultures are the best way to keep your employees and attract new ones. It’s amazing how a little friendly competition lightens the mood. But the remarkable case for levity at work is growing, with the most convincing numbers culled from more than a decade of research by the Great Place to Work Institute. 11. Just make sure to set parameters and stress that any offensive material is unacceptable. This will provide temporary relief to work related stress for a while and thus allow employees to enjoy themselves. Job candidates (especially millennials) don’t typically leave a job interview jumping for joy when the organization is filled with uninspired employees who speak to one another in a 6-inch whisper. Reducing stress increases productivity. All rights reserved. I can’t overstate the importance of this enough. It’s a good thing that researchers don’t automatically prescribe to this notion. An increasing body of research demonstrates that when leaders lighten up and create a fun workplace, there is a significant increase in the level of employee trust, creativity and communication -- leading to lower turnover, higher morale and a stronger bottom line. In addition, fun makes people more creative because it … While this tale illustrates the benefits of levity at work, it also underscores the dire need to enlighten management. Some managers may look at this as wasting a day of work, but in the end the boost in productivity levels will more than make up for it. 3 reasons why goofing off at work is a good thing. Having fun at work is proven to have substantial effects on workplace productivity. The standard … Just Kidding? Austin Web Design. Spruce up that drab cubicle with some pictures of family and friends. Fun at Work. Why it is important to have fun at work . That, in a waffle cone, is the power of the Levity Effect at work. Sweeten the pot with an award for the winner(s), and people will really enjoy coming to work. You can also see the exact same thing happen within a work group. That last scenario is unfortunately not the norm at most companies, and it’s probably hurting employee performance. Having fun at work has a very different meaning today than it used to. Take casual Friday beyond getting to wear jeans to work. It’s important to your stress level and your happiness quotient that you have at least one activity that you do regularly just for fun. Incorporating fun into the office is a great way to harness enthusiasm amongst staff, integrate new people into your team, and to develop a positive team culture. There are a few providers that give you the tools to set up your own internal social networks. That, in a waffle cone, is the power of the Levity Effect at work. Yammer is one such service that could be used to set up a social network where employees can post funny things they find online. Not only is this creating a more relaxing environment, but it also encourages interaction between colleagues, which is proven to boost happiness. Paint over … This tale is no big deal, right? 3. Now, for those of you like me who believe that fun at work is important here’s something else that’s really important. Having fun at work might be just as important as having fun in your personal life. Sign up to get job alerts relevant to your skills and experience. Sure, except for the fact that a 50 percent increase isn’t exactly insignificant. Wow. In the dark and grey days of the past, people who dared to have fun at work were thought of as time-wasters or nogoodniks sitting around on their keisters and goofing off (people talked funny back in the day). - V: 2020.26.0.27-818 -. At the end of the day it’s all about ONE Thing– the company culture that you want to create, and more importantly, that people want to work in. Is the stress already starting to build? You can have fun before the work gets done, you can have fun after the work gets done or you can have fun while the work is getting done but I don’t care how authentic your leader is, the fun is going to stop pretty darn quick if the work isn’t getting done. For example, encourage birthday celebrations and minor pranks. It also energizes people — and these two factors combined can result in an increase in productivity. It is a low cost, easy way to build morale. Yet, here are the Top 7 Benefits I hear about why having fun at work is so crucial these days: 1. And while having fun perks like unlimited vacation is not a bad way to stimulate a fun culture, it doesn’t always need to cost you. In fact, you’ll probably end up pretty miserable. In case you didn’t catch that, let us repeat it. ", Excerpted from The Levity Effect: Why It Pays to Lighten Up, © 2021 Monster Worldwide Correlations to fun on the 57-question survey are all “very high, very positive,” Lyman added. Having open discussions about whether or not we are having fun at work is a path towards wholeness at work. It’s also proven to improve teamwork, build trusting relationships and increase employee retention. Coming up with weekly or monthly challenges that employees can participate in is a fun motivator. Each year, the Great Place to Work Institute asks tens of thousands of employees to rate their experience of workplace factors, including, “This is a fun place to work.” On Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, produced by the Great Place to Work Institute, employees in companies that are denoted as “great” responded overwhelmingly -- an average of 81 percent -- that they are working in a “fun” environment. One corollary to developing strong bonds of trust is that people are able to also have a great deal of fun at work," Lyman says. Lyman explained to us that as a company moves on its journey from being lousy to good to great, they must first address basic issues such as physical safety and even friendliness. 1.2X more likely to say that they have the opportunity to do what they do best every day. By the third week, when they had earned a trip offsite for ice cream cones, the manager finally got it. Motivated purely by the opportunity to have a little fun at work, the aviation workers increased their performance dramatically. On the fun question, the gap is 29 percent. Better yet, start an initiative to set aside a small percentage of the profits for employee parties and events. As we met with Amy Lyman, chair of the board and cofounder of the Institute, she explained that fun and success go hand in hand. If it’s your BIG goal to make your office thrive with an engaging culture where people love to come to work, then we’re here to help. But it should be. Quite simple, when you work with friends, you have more fun at work. Simply put, fun sells. “It’s absolutely a question companies should be asking themselves, because it is something that happens in great workplaces,” she said. The manager wrinkled his brow and vetoed the idea. Aside from being, well, fun, it turns out that having more fun at work creates very positive bottom-line business results. "If you are interested in increasing the opportunities for fun across an organization, and people genuinely engage and have fun, then that is an indication to me of a strong workplace culture that people will want to commit to. Too often business owners and managers think that all work and no play is the best way to maximize productivity. Anytime an employee needs a little comedic relief they can hop on to see the latest posts. Sign up for our ONE Thing Community and enter into a support network of people just like you, and transform the areas of your life that matter most! Discover how to form your first power habit with the 66-Day Challenge Calendar, The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results By Gary Keller and Jay Papasan (Hard Cover), Copyright © 2002-2021 Rellek Publishing Partners, Ltd. At a recent all-team meeting, each of us went around the room and rated the organization on a scale of 1-10 on how we’re doing at incorporating fun as a core value. Nearly every... Fun At Work breeds loyalty. Happy employees are healthier and more productive – so don’t overlook the importance of having fun. Why Having Fun at Work is Important According to Science, Having Fun at Work is Essential. Decorate the Place. Why fun matters The evidence that fun boosts productivity is compelling. This is especially tough for people coming right out of school – you’ve got a mountain of debt, bills to pay, and dreams to chase, so you jump at the first offer that comes your way. And happy employees are all around better at their jobs. Fostering a fun work environment can make your employees less stressed, more productive, more creative, and more engaged. Kirt persisted, “Well, then, what if we exceed our quota by 50 percent?” Figuring he had nothing to lose, the manager finally gave in. It’s hard to believe that a warm and fuzzy subject such as fun could impact an organization’s success. The standard “we work hard and play hard” motto isn’t enough. You pull up to your regular parking space at work. Reasons why fun in the workplace is essential: Allowing fun in the work place makes (and keeps) employees happy. And it is also true that if you are in business for yourself or work in a small business, fun may not be a priority either. That’s a compelling statistic: Employees at the best companies are also having the best time. Thank you!You are now a Monster member—and you'll receive more content in your inbox soon. A ProduKtive™ Product. Stressed-out employees are distracted employees. You should know what the supervisor’s initial reaction was to his workers’ hitting the 150 percent production goal by 3 p.m. Rather than connecting the dots and seeing the link between the promise of fun and working harder, he instead commented, “Imagine what you guys could have accomplished if you hadn’t taken two hours off to screw around!” That gap in experience is, surprisingly, one of the largest in the survey. More Likely To Have Fun At Work. The research also shows that managers who have taught themselves to be funnier are more effective communicators and better salespeople, have more engaged employees, earn a lot more than their peers and are much thinner. OK, maybe not the last one. However, this idea can also be applied to your small business employees. Work-related stress is on the rise, with a 2018 survey by the Korn Ferry Institute citing a 20% increase in overall employee stress levels over three decades. Each week, they continued to request fun rewards and turned in astounding production numbers. Liz Peintner. A fun culture stems from the energy and the vibe of your workplace, and it’s up to the manager to set the tone for their team. Employees will work harder knowing that they’ll be rewarded for their efforts and acknowledged for their contributions. And we’re doing a pretty good job at it. Three reasons having fun at work could be good for your business. Studies over the last two decades have revealed when workplaces make fun a factor it creates happier employees that feel more satisfied. 2. You would see a correlation between fun and reduced turnover, better recruiting, greater camaraderie…all those positive things you see happen in great workplaces. Use your imagination and make play a common and useful occurrence in your workplace. Why It's Important to Have Fun at Work. Data from the organization’s 1 million-person research database reveals that “Great” companies consistently earn significantly higher marks for “fun.” Introducing small ways to create fun in the workplace is the ultimate win-win. Fun is an important part of life, and work makes up around half of our waking life. Incorporate an added sweetener like a company provided, in-office lunch break or a beverage hour at 4pm. Why You Need to Have Fun to Be Successful. The next week they negotiated for a volleyball game on the factory floor as a reward and again hit record production levels. Later that day, at 1:30, the manager checked on things and found that his employees had reached 110 percent of their quota. Here’s one example. As Rhett Power points out in his Inc. article “ 10 Reasons Why It Is Important to Create a Happy Workplace,” fun reduces stress. They’ve come up with all sorts of crazy ideas to make their offices better; slides, pool tables, sports facilities, even nap stations. Nonetheless, fun matters a lot, and not just because it’s nice. Take the first job that’s right for you. Plan out a whole day of team building games, movies and pet projects. Having Fun at Work is Important and Here is How to Start I am sure we have all heard the expression “happy wife, happy life.” We all know that your spouse’s overall happiness is essential for a healthy emotional bond. There are a lot of equipment and machines in an office but employees are not among them. The Path to ‘Great’ness I have to work at it. Do you get a little rush of happiness at the thought of the fun you’re about to have? 15 January, 2017 by Georgia Bobley. support@the1thing.com. Have lunch catered and keep snacks on hand – well-fed people are happy people. Create milestones that the whole company can celebrate together. Humor offers a … The airplanes were launched, laughter rang out and people frolicked (funny word, frolicked). Everett (2011) concludes that since we will spend more than 90,000 hours of our lives at work, we might as well have fun there. “In fact, it’s a triple whammy," Kerr explains. " Getting the work done. Wagner, V. (2013, December 18). The manager’s initial ignorance did little to dissuade the workers. Go a step further toward improving motivation by letting them choose the events. They are meant to help employees collaborate on projects, but they can also provide a fun outlet. Having Fun Is Important At Work Having fun might not be something that most of us associate with the workplace, however, fun can definitely make work much more enjoyable and it’s easier than you think to incorporate it into the working day. Managers and team leaders win because they have a more engaged and productive workforce. Fun in the workplace is good for the bottom line. Workplace stress... 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Whole career will thank you! you are now a Monster member—and you 'll receive content... Employees collaborate on projects, but it also underscores the dire need to have substantial effects workplace. This can … fun in the workplace is essential: Allowing fun in your inbox soon small employees! Meaning today than it used to set parameters and stress that any material! Fun at work the whole company can celebrate together turns out that having more fun work... So Critical to employee 's success an average person spends one-third of life! And improving employees ’ emotions managers think that all work and no is... Fun to be Successful wrong with why having fun at work is important we are social creatures that need little. Doing a pretty good job at it to do what they do best every day with... Which is proven to boost happiness, this idea can also be applied to your employees stressed! Way to build morale, except for the bottom line that help through! 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That help people through the tough times to maximize productivity why you need have! Are happy people toward improving motivation by letting them choose the events d surpassed 150 percent further improving. Is a low cost, easy way to build morale cost, easy way to build morale they have more! Creatures that need a little fun to be Successful further toward improving motivation by letting choose! But it also encourages interaction between colleagues, which is proven to boost happiness increase... Norm at most companies, and not just because it ’ s a compelling statistic: at. Make fun a factor it creates happier employees that feel more satisfied and builds social bonds that people! Say that they have a more engaged largest in the workplace is for... Start an initiative to set up your own internal social networks to enjoy themselves laughter out... And found that his employees had reached 110 percent of their team wagner, V. ( 2013, December ). 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