Having Fun at Work Is Not a Bad Thing

A plummeting employee morale can taint not only the happiness of employees, but also productivity in an organization. Managers who embrace fun and encourage social activities as part of the company culture can help foster loyalty from employees, increase productivity and, ultimately, impact the satisfaction of clients and customers.

Companies can define a mission that includes a balance of fun and professionalism. Employees take cues from owners and managers, and often, a company culture develops even without planning, explains Jacob Shriar with OfficeVibe. A manager who encourages social activities, interjects humor into long and dull meetings, and fosters freedom for employees to express their personalities is more likely to improve employee morale.

Many employees have an innate need to be social. Although many companies discourage socializing and see it as unproductive or a waste of time, the opposite is often true. A study by researcher Helen Stockhult revealed that social relationships in the workplace increase an employee's willingness to take on more responsibilities. As a result, productivity increases, teamwork becomes the norm and the company's growth is impacted. Friendships in the workplace foster motivation and a willingness to help co-workers when tasks are overwhelming. Employees who make work fun for each other are happy to lend a hand when the common goal is to complete a project or task.

Managers can improve employee morale by setting an example. Promote more fun by engaging in social activities on breaks with employees and communicating that it is acceptable to laugh with each other. Set the tone by creating boundaries and appropriate times for fun activities to occur in the workplace. Managers who encourage employees to work hard and play hard gain respect as leaders, positively impacting employee morale.

Encourage group retreats so employees can get to know their co-workers, share common interests, and seek out strengths and weaknesses to better the team as a whole. Celebrate small wins, and recognize employees who are motivated, willing to work well with others and inspire co-workers to maintain a positive work environment.

Create a "fun committee" to plan special events, department lunch celebrations, retreats and happy hour events. Give employees something fun to look forward to once responsibilities and tasks are complete. Incentives are crucial to improving employee morale. Special bonuses, such as a special parking spot, decorated office chair, gift certificate or company sing-a-long, can motivate employees to be productive and social at the same time.

Happy employees are more likely to productively work to meet the company's goals and fulfill the mission. When fun is a focus in the office place, employee morale is bound to improve, which results in a productive, motivating and profitable environment. Managers can foster fun by setting an example, creating boundaries and getting to know their employees to benefit the company as a whole.

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