The annual NCAA basketball tournament started March 14 with 68 team and culminates in a final game April 3. The event is a huge draw for office betting pools that leave some employers worried about workers slacking off. However, a new survey finds reasons for managers to celebrate.

“While many employers fear a loss of productivity due to the distraction of office pools during the college basketball tournament season, our findings suggest the potential short-term distraction in the office may actually be a win for employee morale, engagement and satisfaction in the long-term,” said Jim Link, chief human resource officer at Randstad North America. “Given the heightened competition for talent and the need for organizations to improve employee engagement and collaboration, our study indicates the significance of socially connecting with peers to foster deeper connections and boost employee morale.”

Link’s firm commissioned the survey of 1,200 respondents from February 20 to 24. Overall, the survey found that 89% agree that office pools foster team camaraderie and that 58% completely or strongly agree. Gen Z and Gen X workers were the most enthusiastic. While 79% of workers said that taking part in office pools greatly boosts their engagement at work, 85% and 84% of Gen Z and Gen X workers, respectively, said the same. 

The survey also found that 73% (82% for Gen Z and Gen X) look forward to coming to work when they are part of the office pool and 50% (58% Gen Z and 53% Gen X) said they meet with colleagues after work to watch a game. Nearly 40% of employees (58% Gen Z and 41% Gen X) develop a strong bond with coworkers.  

“When it comes to the impact on worker productivity, the study found 76% of employees checked scores during work hours and 53% watched or followed sporting events on their computers while at work,” the survey found.  It also found that the average amount spent by employees in office pools is $22.44. One potential concern is that 81% of employees who opt to skip work the day after watching a game phoned in sick. 

Houston-based American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC) finds that the NCAA tournament, the World Cup and other big events can foster good morale. Ashley White, executive director of human resources for the firm, said trying to shut out such events is not realistic. So reports Good Call.

“Employees are either going to watch it live at their desks, or we can turn it into an employee engagement opportunity that breeds goodwill and connectedness in the process,” White said. For APQC, March Madness is one of several events the company sees as an opportunity to show that it cares about its employees.

“Our idea is to have fun with it, such as by creating a betting pool,” White said. “We also do this with Fantasy Football. So, our view is that it is not nearly the distraction that you might think it would be.”

Office Team, a staffing firm, sees March Madness as a chance to let their employees bond. In a poll the firm conducted last year, it found about 14% of senior managers viewed the tournament as negative for productivity, while 63% said there was no impact and 22% said productivity was positively impacted.

“The line between work and personal time has become more blurred,” said Brandi Britton, district president of the firm. “Many organizations realize that good employees will still make sure their work gets done, even if they do take a few minutes here and there to check scores or chat with coworkers.”

Office Team’s survey found that 66% of employees think March Madness and other sporting events made for a more happy workplace. Still, 27% of employees said they would rather keep sporting-related activities out of the workplace. The survey found that 30% were bothered by workers who were sore losers or too competitive and that 22% were annoyed by co-workers calling in sick the day after watching or attending a game.

Another 8% said some workers go overboard in donning their team’s attire or putting up decorations. While employers shouldn’t feel they need to set up flat-screen televisions, they should “embrace the team spirit the tournament creates,” Terri Dougherty, a human resources expert, wrote for The Tribune.

Dougherty suggests firms encourage employees to wear their team’s colors on specific days, allow for flexible schedules so workers can catch a game, start a company-wide pool as a way to bond and that does not require an cash entry fee, cut employees some slack to check scores on their phones or computers if their workplace prohibits this activity and air the games in the lunch room.    

“A company already may have the March Madness issue covered under a blanket Internet use policy,” Dougherty said. “If there is a concern IT resources will be strained as employees search for scores and stream video, damage can be mitigated if employees have a clear understanding of their employer's position.”