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Benefit
#3
Morale tops
the list of business concerns. Companies struggle to cope with change
and retain top employees. In a survey of 100 major Chicago-area
companies conducted by the Cambridge Human Resource Group, 41 percent
of responding human resource directors said revitalizing the work
force was their top priority.11
Harvey Mackay,
author of "Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive"
and owner of Mackay Envelope Company, says he has rarely seen a
company with happy employees that was not successful. Companies
that concentrate just on satisfying their customers and "whipping
competition to a pulp" miss the easiest audience of all: their own
employees. At his company, Mackay says it is difficult for workers
to visualize themselves on the cutting edge of creativity when they
are making envelopes. His managers recognize this so closing shop
for an afternoon and taking the employees to a ball game, or ordering
pizza-on-the-house, or offering an unexpected cash bonus, all pay
off. Fun makes people feel appreciated and increases employee loyalty
resulting in fewer stress-related sick days, which in turn translates
into lower health-care costs, higher productivity, and better morale.
In short, less absenteeism and lower turnover increase creativity
and productivity.12
I recently consulted
with a facilities management department at a local college that
wanted to increase morale by making fun of work. Shortly after my
presentation, the facility manager received a request from the President
of the college: Do something about the unsightly new satellite dish
installed on top of the administration building. The facility manager
asked two of his employees to take care of it. These employees decided
to “get creative.” They took a chance. Since Halloween was right
around the corner, they painted a giant jack-o-lantern face on the
ugly dish. The President loved the creative solution. Now the “face”
of the satellite changes seasonally, and employees look forward
to their turn in expressing creativity on the job.
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