Due to the nature of our business, many of our weekly tasks are front-loaded earlier in the week. It goes without saying that Mondays here at the office can be utter chaos with phones buzzing and individuals scrambling to get a grip on the Monday rodeo. Suddenly everyone receives a message in their inbox titled, “URGENT! PLEASE READ THIS REPORT RIGHT AWAY!” In a hurried fashion, each member of the team takes a moment to read the following message:
“What happens to a frog's car when it breaks down?”
“It gets toad away.”
Some grin, some laugh, a few rolls their eyes...but across the board something has changed. In two sentences, a Monday had just become a bit more pleasant and everyone received an opportunity to diffuse some of the day’s stress.
Stress in the Workplace:
The statistics that correlate with job satisfaction levels and workplace stress levels are certainly not a joke, they are in fact staggering. Nearly half of all Americans are unsatisfied with their current positions, with a significant portion of Americans reporting their job as the primary source of stress in their lives.
Keeping the Workplace Lighthearted:
While we are not encouraging employers to send periodic jokes via interoffice correspondence, each employer should take this moment to ask themselves, Are my employees having fun and enjoying their work? Not interacting with coworkers in a positive manner, disinterest in the tasks being performed, and difficulty adhering to the expectations of the job are all things that could increase turnover (which translates into expenses) that have nothing to due with the depth or robustness of your company’s compensation models. Managers should take it upon themselves to getting a good grasp of their subordinates’ personalities and go the extra mile to keep the work fun and engaging for them. A manager that accomplishes this will observe a higher degree of performance from their subordinates.
Disclaimer:
While we encourage you to keep the workplace lighthearted and fun, it is important to remember that safety and cleanliness is observed. At now point and time should an employer create a situation that is unsafe or negatively impact an employee's work experience.
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Michael Chiovitti, Chief Talent Strategist
Eden Resources, LLC