Method to the Madness?

With March Madness in full swing, one in five managers says they see activities tied to the NCAA basketball tournament as a way of improving morale around the workplace.

In a survey by OfficeTeam of 1,000 managers nationwide, 20% felt that activities such as watching game highlights or engaging in friendly competitions improve employee morale in the workplace at least somewhat, compared to only 4% who viewed them negatively. The majority (75%) of respondents said March Madness events have no impact on morale.

Sixteen percent of managers also say that March Madness activities have at least a somewhat positive impact on employee productivity, compared to 9% who feel they have a negative impact. Again, 75% said the events have no impact.

Executives who were asked the same questions in a 2012 survey were more divided, with 41% viewing college playoff celebrations as a morale booster, and 22% saying these activities adversely affect employee output.

Tips on celebrating March Madness at work