Within reason, injecting a little fun into the workday can make your employees happier and more productive. There are good reasons that finding a balance between work and fun is important.

What are the benefits of a fun company culture?
Research at California State University Long Beach shows that “people who have fun at work are more creative, more productive, work better with others and call in sick less often.”

Improved Engagement
Workers who have fun on the job are more invested in the company’s success, they enjoy coming to work. They have fewer illnesses and don’t take as many sick days.

Increased Creativity
A fun work environment promotes creativity. This is particularly important in creative businesses such as marketing or design firms, but in any industry there is a need to create, innovate and problem-solve.

Enhanced Productivity
When productivity drops, it’s usually because employees are bored or stressed. A fun work environment can prevent both. And laughter is a great stress reliever. It lowers blood pressure, improves memory and strengthens analytic skills.

How much fun is too much
Your business is, of course, a business. And you’re there to get work done. When fun becomes more important than work, productivity drops. Employees are distracted, safety issues arise or people who don’t want to participate are singled out as poor sports. Also, fun activities are no replacement for addressing genuine problems.

Timing is Everything
Schedule fun events so that they don’t interfere with workflow, but instead serve as a reward for a job well-done. Think after your peak periods, not during, or they will just be a source of additional stress for your employees.

Prioritize Safety
Some companies need to be a bit more rigid than others for safety reasons. In a factory setting, construction site or other locations where safety is a concern, the fun, outside-the-box ideas you can try are limited. Boost morale instead by providing lunch or breakfast every now and then. Allow workers to customize their equipment if appropriate or provide rewards for meeting safety goals.

A fun company culture may have has its benefits, but staffing problems are no fun.  Let the professionals at RealStreet Staffing help you find job candidates who are ready to become productive members of your team. Our qualified recruiters will deliver talented engineering and construction professionals and design a staffing solution to fit your needs.  Contact us today to see how we can help.