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Fun at Work

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Submitted By mrlrogers1
Words 1065
Pages 5
Organizational Behavior

Introduction
The American Heritage Dictionary defines fun as “a source of enjoyment, amusement or pleasure”. Imagine working for a company for more than 40 hours a week with a team of introverts. This may sound great to individuals who may have found refuge in isolation, but it comes at a cost for the company. Hodge-Cronin & Associates conducted survey of 737 CEO’s. The survey revealed that 98% of this group “preferred job candidates with a sense of humor to those without” (Rau-Foster, 2000).
Can fun really make that much of a difference? Can fun make a company rank #1 for best company to work for? Dr. David Abramis has been researching and studying the topic for years now. “He’s discovered that people who have fun on the job are more creative, more productive, better decision-makers and get along better with co-workers. They also have fewer absentee, late, and sick days than people who aren’t having fun” (Rau-Foster, 2000).
Explanation
CNN Money has ranked Google as #1 for the “100 Best Companies to Work For” for 2013. Why is this? In 2006, Genentech a company that makes medicine that fights cancer, was ranked #1. Employee’s working for Genentech stated, “What’s better than being a valued member of a cancer-fighting team? Having a great time while you’re at work” (CNN Money, 2006). This company had a 5 percent turnover rate and 20 percent job growth. Now remember the year 2006!
Google was on the bottom of this list in 2007. This leaves many people wondering how Google climbed its way up to the top. What research has found is that Google is a Silicone Valley Company that is now setting the standards on having fun in the workplace. They offer free meals, swimming, spas and free doctors onsite. They have three wellness centers and a group of other activities.
Google has been ranked #1 four times. From the year of 2006 to 2012 Google has grown over 33 percent from 9,500 employees to over 18,500. In 2013, they have grown to over 34,000 employees. Their growth from 2006 to 2013 has not been affected by the recession (CNN Money, 2013).
If the numbers are not enough to convince you that having fun in the workplace can grow a company, let’s take a look at how fun can benefit the company. Turnovers are battles that most companies struggle with. IPSOS, a firm that conducts research and surveys, contacted 1000 workers. These workers were asked to rate their managers sense of humor. Those who stated that their managers sense of humor was above average stated that “there was a 90 percent chance they’d stay at the job for more than a year” (Bathurst, 2008).
Many companies have found that encouraging innovation, creativity and empowering their employees makes a difference in the workplace. This also changes the way their employees approach their work. Another way fun at work can benefit the company is by removing stress. Fun makes stressful situations less difficult to deal with. Stress at work can interfere with employee’s productivity, self-control and self-confidence. Removing stress not only benefits the company, it benefits the employees as well. Profitability is the goal for any company and fun at work contributes to this. Fun changes the atmosphere of the company, which can jump start productivity, which increases profitability. According to “Hal Rosenbluth, CEO of Rosenbluth International, the nation’s fourth largest travel-services company with $2 billion in revenue; he considers it ‘almost inhumane if a company creates a climate where people can’t naturally have fun. Our role and responsibility as leaders and associates is to create a place where people can enjoy themselves. I know our company is doing well when I walk around and hear people laughing. The enjoyment translates into performance” (Thompson, 2008).
Personal Thoughts
I believe that fun in the work place is a vital part of any business. Employees are not only doing their normal work, but other duties assigned by management at no extra pay. Many of the employees that work for these companies are stressed and their motivation and creativity is no longer in existence. This type of management is killing production and causing high turnovers. Leadership needs to take their blinders off and look at the morale of the employees under their leadership. Their employees should be an extension of their family. We all know if you take care of your family, your family will take care of you.
Conclusion
Throughout this research paper I gave you some years to remember, 2006 to 2013. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (2011), the most recent recession began in December of 2007. So I leave you with this, if fun at work can elevate companies to the top during a recession, why are people in leadership roles still missing the boat?

References
Bathurst, P. (2008). Having fun at work increases loyalty, productivity. AZCentral.com: Arizona Business & Money. Retrieved April 05, 2013 from http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2008/06/01/20080601biz-funatwork0601-ON.html
CNN Money (2013). Fortune: 100 Best Companies to Work for. Retrieved April 05, 2013 from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/best-companies/
CNN Money (2013). Fortune: 100 Best Companies to Work for. Retrieved April 05, 2013 from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2006/index.html
CNN Money (2013). Fortune: 100 Best Companies to Work for. Retrieved April 05, 2013 from http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/01/news/economy/recession/index.htm
Fun. (n.d.) The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved April 05, 2013 from http://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=fun&submit.x=-784&submit.y=-210
Work. (n.d.) The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved April 05, 2013 from http://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=work&submit.x=-784&submit.y=-210
Lawler, J. (2011). When Did This Recession Begin? Retrieved April 05, 2013 from http://spectator.org/blog/2011/06/09/when-did-this-recession-begin
Rau-Foster, R. (2000). Humor and Fun in the Workplace. Retrieved April 05, 2013 from http://www.workplaceissues.com/arhumor.htm
Thompson, R. (2004). Increase Productivity, Profitability, and Morale and Make Work Fun. Retrieved April 05, 2013 from http://www.robinthompson.com/makingworkfun.htm

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