PLANNING STARTS FOR MADNESS

Employers need to figure out ways to keep up production during tournament

Coaches of teams in the upcoming NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament all know the importance of coming up with a good game plan.

For business owners, managers and administrators, that same type of planning is vital to ensure that employees stay productive in the midst of the tournament that is hyped as March Madness. That task has become an annual challenge for businesses, especially during the early part of the tournament, when many games are played on weekdays during business hours.

“I think what’s important is to make sure your management team talks about that — how you want to handle it,” said Kelly Keefe, president of ERC, a Highland Heights-based provider of human resources and workplace programs, training and consulting. “You don’t want all productivity to stop.”

March 21 marks the first full day of college basketball playoff games in this year’s edition of March Madness. A field of 64 teams will begin battling in first-round games that day to earn a spot in the NCAA Division I championship game, which takes place April 8 in

“Communicate with your employees ahead of time, encourage moderation and follow the employee handbook.” — Kelly Keefe, president of ERC

Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The first two days of Round 1 action — March 21 and 22 — will feature 16 games each day, starting at noon and going late into the evening. Eight of those games will take place each day between noon and 5 p.m., so college basketball will compete for the attention of many sports fans and other March Madness enthusiasts who work daytime jobs.

When it comes to focusing on college basketball vs. work during March Madness, the excitement created by the games can be a distraction, according to a number of national studies and surveys. For example:

• Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. estimated that March Madness in 2019 could cost U.S. businesses $13.3 billion in lost productivity.

• A 2018 survey conducted

by Tsheets by QuickBooks found that 48 percent of employees said they spend at least 30 minutes working on their March Madness tournament brackets at their jobs. Another 27 percent of employees surveyed said they spend an hour on their brackets while at work.

• Staffing company OfficeTeam said that in 2018, employees spent an average of 25.5 minutes a day in the office on sports-related activities during March Madness.

Keefe concedes that a lot of research shows March Madness “absolutely does do some damage from a productivity standpoint.” However, she said businesses can keep operating successfully and have some fun with careful thought and planning.

First, she said it’s a good idea for management to review the employee handbook before issuing any memos or emails regarding workplace expectations during this time.

“You can’t say one thing and have another written down,” she said.

If a business offers flexible scheduling, this option could be used during March Madness so a worker could take time off to watch weekday games in which he or she has the most interest. Or consider allowing telecommuting, if possible, so an employee could work at home and have games on in the background without distracting fellow employees.

Also, remember that the games provide the chance to increase camaraderie in the workplace, Keefe said. Organizing a potluck or encouraging workers to watch together during their breaks are a couple of ideas to consider.

When businesses give employees opportunities to enjoy themselves at work during events like March Madness, it can help build morale and retain personnel in the long run, which can negate any short-term productivity losses, she said.

“Communicate with your employees ahead of time, encourage moderation and follow the employee handbook,” she said.

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