Impact of Fun @ Work Activities on Employee Engagement

A workplace is traditionally perceived as a serious, dull and gloomy space that is dedicated to performing various professional tasks in a non-nonsense environment. In fact, most people start experiencing a sense of growing stress as they get nearer to their workplace. In fact, if given the choice, most people would prefer spending time with their family and friends rather than going to work. This is primarily because work environments are rarely fun-filled or exciting, and focus on constantly pressurizing employees to get tasks done. Thankfully, organizations are gradually changing their approach in this respect by introducing fun activities at the workplace to enhance employee motivation and engagement.

Need to promote a fun environment at the workplace
Over the past several years, organizations have been increasingly focusing on enhancing the happiness and satisfaction level of employees at work. This change has been driven by the awareness that happy employees tend to be more productive and engaged. That is why organizations are investing time and effort to make the workplace more enjoyable. Towards this goal, they are introducing and implementing a wide range of fun at work activities and strategies. Such initiatives can offer tangible positive benefits for employees, teams and the organization as a whole. This is because when employees work in an environment where they feel constantly happy and satisfied, their productivity and performance improve naturally.

Benefits of having a fun-filled work environment
Several studies conducted over the past two decades have shown that organizations that make fun an integral part of their work culture enjoy a higher level of employee engagement. In addition, a fun-filled environment at work proves beneficial for business organizations in the following ways:

1. It enhances the overall well-being of employees
As mentioned before, when employees enjoy being at work, their work-related stress is reduced significantly. At the same time, their happiness quotient increases and this impacts their overall health and well-being in a significantly positive way. Since healthier employees are less likely to take days off from, this naturally improves their overall performance and efficiency. This, in turn, improves the bottom line of the organization and sets it on a path of consistent growth and success. More importantly, it helps the organizations save a significant amount through unutilized sick leaves and medical benefits.

2. It promotes a deep sense of commitment and loyalty
The main aim of ensuring a fun work environment is to enhance the happiness and satisfaction of employees. Such employees feel a deep sense of attachment towards the organization. It minimizes their chances of seeking other job opportunities that may promise greater compensation. It helps organizations maintain a decent employee retention rate and improves their the employer brand value among prospective candidates. A higher retention rate also brings down the hiring costs for the organization which can further add to its profit margins.

3. It improves communication, coordination and teamwork
Working in a relaxed and fun environment makes it easier for employees to interact with their co-workers and superiors in an open and frank manner. It promotes a sense of mutual trust, understanding and respect among the members of the workforce. They are able to express their ideas and opinions without any fear of rejection or embarrassment. In addition, when employees enjoy working in each other’s company they show a greater willingness to complete tasks in a coordinated and timely manner. This naturally helps in improving the productivity of the organization and ensures greater business benefits.

4. It helps in promoting creativity and innovation
A fun environment makes it possible for employees to think out-of-the-box and come up with the more creative and innovative solutions for various business problems. Fun activities especially those that involve challenges and problem-solving simulate the imagination of employees and enhance their creative skills. The energy, excitement and participation of colleagues further encourage these skills. Employees can then use these skills in their everyday tasks to get better results and ensure a better ROI for their organization.

Tips to make workplaces fun-filled and interesting
Contrary to popular belief creating up a fun-filled work environment to improve employee productivity is not such a difficult task. The following tips can help you accomplish this quickly and easily:
• Promote a relaxed work environment by encouraging casual interaction between colleagues beyond the lunch-hour or tea breaks.
• Regularly organize friendly competitions between work teams and give unusual prizes to winners.
• Set a specific time every week when employees stop work and gossip about anything and everything under the sky.
• Organize high-teas, lunches and picnics to help break barriers and make it easier for employees to socialize.

Having a fun-filled work environment where employees love to work and play can go a long way in driving business success.