Employees Need a T.O., as Well Chicago Firm Says Tournament Good for Morale in Workplace

Post ^ | 031904 | Thomas Heath

[Archangelsk]

Employees Need a T.O., as Well Chicago Firm Says Tournament Good for Morale in Workplace

By Thomas Heath Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, March 19, 2004; Page D12

That giant sucking sound ringing in the ears of employers throughout the country is the estimated loss of $1.5 billion in worker productivity caused by the distraction of the men's NCAA tournament, according to a study by a Chicago-based job placement company.

"You don't need a television to watch the game any more," said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., an employee outplacement firm that came up with the estimate. "Everybody's got computers on their desks and they are streaming the games right in."

But don't blame computers alone. Challenger said water-cooler talk, office betting pools, long lunches, Internet downloads, television breaks and telephone chitchat are also contributing to the productivity decline.

Challenger's recommendation to employers: Don't fight March Madness. Join it.

"What we are suggesting is most companies look the other way," Challenger said. "We suggest they embrace it. It's great for morale."

Many Washington area employers appear to be taking that advice to heart.

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan said he and the rest of the county's 8,000 employees are going to be doing the same thing, "Sneaking peaks at the game," whether it's the University of Maryland or some other team.

[Archangelsk]

So let me get this straight, my taxpayer dollars should subsidize the March Madness Fever of federal, state and local employees. Am I right? OK, I've got a better idea, why don't we just fire the oxygen thieves on the payroll and they can have all the time they want at the homeless shelter to watch their precious games.