March Madness in the workplace
The 'March Madness' NCAA men's basketball tournament is scheduled to kick off next week, on March 16th, and some officials believe that there will be a corresponding drop in workplace productivity, stemming from the multitude of sources available for checking on the games - online streaming, cell phones, etc. Outplacement firm Challenger estimates that the first week of the tournament could cost almost $2 billion in unproductive wages. However, Challenger also says that this number is likely way off, as it is difficult to predict how things will go in the digital age. Challenger also believes that a little March Madness in the workplace could be a good thing for relieving stress over jobs in this uncertain economy. Some suggest that, instead of policing handheld device activity, firms use the tournament for team-building and morale-boosting by putting a game TV in the breakroom, sponsoring a bracket tournament, or allowing employees to sport their favorite team's colors.
See "March Madness in the workplace", Christopher Tritto, Bizjounals.com, March 9, 2010