GennGlobal discusses how some distractions are unavoidable and OK at the office.

1. Thoughts
and
inspirations
from
A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF DISTRACTIONS ARE
NECESSARY IN THE
WORKPLACE

2.  Distractions in the workplace are an eventuality. While
there are many different ways to mitigate or eliminate
your work environment, it might actually be beneficial
to allow some degree of distraction for your employees.
 In fact, research, and a small degree of conventional
wisdom, suggests that this is the case.
 Outside of the obvious time sucks of surfing the Internet,
checking Facebook, and chatting with coworkers,
sports are a prime candidate for chief distractor.
 Next, we will explore the topic of distraction in the
workplace and explain why a small degree of
distraction is necessary.
INTRODUCTION

4.  There are many sports that can be distracting in the
workplace: American college basketball’s March
Madness, the Super Bowl, the World Cup, and fantasy
sports are some of the main contenders.
 By the numbers, sports are incredibly distracting.
 For the 2010 World Cup, the U.S. lost $121 million to lost
productivity, and the UK lost a HUGE amount,
equivalent to $7.3 billion!
 America’s March Madness, for example, was expected
to cost the country $1.2 billion in 2014.
DISTRACTING SPORTS IN THE
WORKPLACE

6.  And of course there is fantasy football (for American
football, not the real deal). Fantasy football and other
sports can be addictive because participants have an
active role in the experience, drafting players and
managing a team.
 Fantasy football also has some big numbers. A report
from outplacement consulting firm Challenger, Gray &
Christmas expects the U.S. to lose $16 billion in lost
productivity over the course of this NFL season, which
runs from mid September until the end of December.
 However, even with a huge figure like $16 billion, CEO
John Challenger doesn’t believe employers should be
worried. But why?
FANTASY FOOTBALL

8.  Ultimately, it comes down to a mixture of that large sum
being spread between several months, and the more
important fact that sometimes distractions are healthy
in the workplace.
 As Challenger states: “It is impossible to reach full
productivity…we would burn out within a week.”
 The structured nature of sports as a fandom make them
a preferable distraction since they have some degree
of limitation and predictability for when they will
become problems.
 What’s more, your coworkers that are sports fans can
easily bond over their love of sports, which gives the
whole situation a teambuilding aspect.
WHY DISTRACTIONS ARE HELPFUL