Companies Should Lean Into the Fun of March Madness
Many employment lawyers and HR specialists have written extensively about its hazards to productivity, absenteeism, and quality issues that arise from employees attempting to juggle their job tasks and fandom. However, I am not one of them. My advice? Lean in into. Celebrate it with your employees or share it with your clients (or both); particularly on the heels of the isolation of the pandemic. Here are a few ways to make the most out of this once-a-year opportunity.
1. Throw an Employee Game-Watch: These games present an opportunity to employees across departments or even office locations to bond over their shared fandom of teams. It also provides a unique opportunity for management to engage with employees. These casual sports-related conversations often lead to additional conversations which works to deepen employee engagement and office morale.
2. Embrace the Chaos of the Busted Bracket: One thing is certain during March Madness – the Almighty Bracket does not care about anyone’s position on the organizational chart. CEOs are humbled. Employees are elevated. The non-sports fan who picks teams based upon the school’s mascot or its proximity to their favorite vacation spot always seems to do well. Departments are united over common picks. A bracket challenge create a fun and engaging element to office dynamics and interactions which span well beyond March.
3. An Opportunity to Deepen Client Relationships: In addition to increasing employee engagement, March Madness provides an opportunity for companies to deepen their relationship with their clients, vendors, referral sources, and other trusted business partners. Many companies host well-attended events in an informal setting that not only allow everyone to take a few hours off work, but also allow for camaraderie in an informal setting away from the pressures and stresses of the office.
4. Avoid the Temptation to Rigorously Enforce Rules: So long as it is practical / feasible, the company should avoid the temptation to be draconian during the working hours of March Madness. The reality is that most employees will find a way to watch the games whether it be on their phones or through using the “boss button” function on their computer. And while celebrating March Madness can boost employee morale, the opposite can be true if employees believe that there is an unreasonable crackdown.
While the above advice may not work in every environment (e.g., a busy manufacturing floor with stringent production goals and safety concerns), it is worth considering for those businesses that are able to embrace it (particularly as companies are bringing employees back into the office). So, if you can, lean into March Madness as an opportunity to engage with your employees and clients. A few hours of fun can lead to many hours of increased productivity.