“Work is much more fun than fun” Noel Coward
People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.
Studies show that 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. Having fun at work has multiple benefits. It increases productivity, builds camaraderie and enhances employee loyalty. It also reminds people of their value to their managers, their organization, and to each other.
As Tony Hsieh puts it, “Happiness is a business model”.
Why Fun At Work is Important
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. Here are some of the benefits for providing a fun yet productive environment in the office.
Fun At Work Sells
Simply put, fun sells. The standard “we work hard and play hard” motto isn’t enough. Nearly every employer touts it and only a few actually mean it. Break down the cliché dichotomy to incorporate fun during work hours. This will make your company culture infinitely more attractive to new talent.
Is your workplace truly amazing? It’s time to find out! Take the Amazing Workplaces® survey and certification – your chance to benchmark your company against top performers, uncover hidden strengths and weaknesses, and embark on a journey to build a workplace that’s the envy of your entire industry. Know more
Fun At Work breeds loyalty
What’s better than attracting new talent? Retaining your starting lineup. Workplace stress leads to an increase of almost 50% in voluntary turnover. When employees feel free to take a break from their tasks and blow off steam with their team, relationships deepen and company loyalty ensues. Your culture should create space where employees can flourish relationally and professionally.
Increase in Committment & Job Satisfaction
The outgrowth of a positive and fun work environment has shown increases in employee commitment and job satisfaction. The culture charter for many companies is to not only provide great careers, but fuel great lives. Having fun as a team can help with both. Do check out our article on Employee Appreciation.
Happiness and Positivity
Having fun is an integral component of emotional wellness. Fun at work serves as an excellent motivation for engagement and participation. Additionally, if people are having fun at work, they will likely deliver better results because they perform better when positive and happy.
Team Spirit
If you have a team that is struggling, try setting aside some time for team-building. When people are having fun with their co-workers, teamwork improves. Regular activities as simple as monthly lunches that get teams together will help everyone learn and appreciate each other.
Creativity At Work
Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. It begins with a foundation in knowledge, disciplines and thinking. Fun at workplace can foster creativity because a relaxed and enjoyable work environment is more conducive to creative thinking.
Fun At Work pays
According to the workplace factors for rating “This is a fun place to work” in the 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. On the other hand, 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 which also means that people are able to also have a great deal of fun at work. You would see a correlation between fun and reduced turnover, better recruiting, greater camaraderie…all those positive things you see happen in great workplaces.
Is your workplace truly amazing? It’s time to find out! Take the Amazing Workplaces® survey and certification – your chance to benchmark your company against top performers, uncover hidden strengths and weaknesses, and embark on a journey to build a workplace that’s the envy of your entire industry. Know more
