Feel the Fun…
In Personnel Today this week there is an article about how employers are tackling the stress epidemic in the workplace. One of the interesting bits is that in the Bothered Britain Report commissioned by Simplyhealth, the health benefits provider, found that 33% of the respondents reduced workplace stress by ‘creating a fun atmosphere’.
I am intrigued to know what exactly that means…
Do people really know how to have fun at work? With all the caution around whether certain banter is acceptable plus the increasing levels of workload after the recession has hit, seeing staff numbers decrease, getting into ‘fun’ could prove quite a challenge. But I am absolutely convinced that it is the right thing to get into.
I’ve seen small changes to the working environment making a huge difference to how people feel about their surroundings and whether they have permission to relax and have a bit of fun. For example, one of my clients has recently moved into new offices – all the walls are white and give a very clinical feel. The Operations Manager wanted the atmosphere to feel more friendly and personal. So, he invited his team to bring in some photos of themselves when they were younger and these were projected onto various walls. This created a talking point, interest and lots of giggles that reduced tension and allowed dialogue from different departments to increase.
Okay I am not suggesting that we all start doing this but really thinking about what we mean by a ‘fun atmosphere’ and identifying what the boundaries to this will be are essential. So let’s get it on the next team meeting agenda, “Item 1 – How we can create a more fun atmosphere at work” and roll with it!
