5 way March Madness can benefit your workplace (instead of hurt it)

March Madness is upon us.  And while that may mean a social calendar filled with watch-parties and happy hours, it also means a potential HUGE loss in productivity in your workplace.  Did you know that in 2017 there were a reported “$6.3 BILLION in corporate losses due to unproductive workers during March Madness” according to Wallet Hub?  It’s no surprise with games going on throughout the day, and technology at the fingertips of your employees, that it has the potential to become a huge distraction.  While March Madness can be both a distraction and a time-suck, successful companies and bosses will use it as an opportunity to build comradery, boost employee morale, and create positive office energy.

Here are 5 ways that you can use March Madness to help move your business forward:

1.   Team Builder:  Have employees get into teams and make a bracket with the promise of a prize for the winners.  It could be beneficial to put people into groups that work in different departments to help create bonds among employees that don’t normally get to work together.  Give away cool prizes to the winning bracket like a better parking spot, or a pizza lunch.  This will get competitive juices flowing and create comradery within the teams.
2.  Start the morning off discussing recent games. This can boost energy levels and get everyone in a great mood going into their days.
3.  Take an impromptu break when a big game is getting down to the wire. If employees are keeping their eye on the big games anyway, why not be the generous boss that allows everyone to stop working for 15 minutes to watch the end of a big game?
4.  Throw a March Madness Party. Have employees invite friends and family.  This could be a huge moral booster and allow people to get to know each other and their families outside of the workplace.
5.  Plan for employee distraction; Prepare managers on how to handle situations when employees are caught watching/discussing the game during inappropriate times. Preparing them with a redirect like “I appreciate your passion for your team, now how about we apply some of that passion to this project” will help ensure your employees are kept on track and are discussing and enjoying March Madness when YOU want them to and staying focused when they need to be.

March Madness has the potential to distract, disrupt and create an unproductive workplace, but it doesn’t have to be all bad.  Use these 5 tips above to ensure you are using it as an opportunity for wins instead of loses and come out on top.

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