How Fun Is Your Workplace? (And Why It Matters)

In The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up, Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher make an interesting argument that "levity" is an extremely effective tool for helping people to work better. An atmosphere of light-heartedness, it turns out, helps people pay attention, eases tensions and enhances a feeling of connection.

When I read this, I thought, "Well, levity would be tough for me -- I'm not particularly funny, and I'm not particularly outgoing."

But what the authors mean by "levity" is really a sense of lightness. It's less about being funny and more about being able to have fun and see the humorous side of everyday situations -- especially difficult situations.

Ah, I thought, I'm trying! The ninth of my "12 commandments" is "Lighten up." When I posted sticky notes with key phrases all around my office and apartment, the one I put in the master bathroom read, "Tender and light-hearted."

Gostick and Christopher include a quiz about workplace levity. Looking at it, I realized that most of my workplaces included these elements, which I'm sure contributed to the positive experience I had everywhere (except for the summer I worked as a waitress at Dos Hombres Mexican restaurant, and zoikes, I did not like that job).

For example, I'd assumed that the atmosphere around the Supreme Court would be serious, thoughtful and grand. And it was. But in her chambers, Justice O'Connor incorporated several goofy aspects that made it a lot of fun, too. Each Halloween, she required her clerks to decorate elaborate pumpkins, and birthday celebrations were always a big deal, and she took the clerks on a yearly outing (we went fishing). And that sort of thing really did make a difference.

How does your workplace measure up? Take Gostick and Christopher's quiz:

New employees are made to feel welcome.
Meetings are positive and light.
We have fun activities at least once a month.
It's common to hear people laughing around here.
I can be myself at work.
We have a lot of celebrations for special events.
When brainstorming, we like to have fun.
My boss is usually optimistic and smiling.
Customers would call us fun to do business with.
I have a friend at work who makes me laugh.
We have a good time together.

Does your workplace have "levity," according to this quiz? Do you think it matters?

This is a great list for home, too. For my next book, Happier at Home, I tried several resolutions that were meant to try to bring more levity into my apartment. For instance, I tried to under-react to problems, and it really did help.

How about you? Have you found that an atmosphere of levity and good humor makes a difference to your workplace or home? Have you found any good strategies to keep things fun and light?

* It's fun to look around Laughing Squid, which "features interesting art, culture, and technology from around the web."

* Valentine's Day is next week. Give the gift of happiness! Well, you can't do that, but you can give The Happiness Project (can't resist mentioning: #1 New York Times bestseller). Buy it for yourself, for your sweetheart, or for anyone who needs a good book to read.

Order your copy.

Read sample chapters.

For more by Gretchen Rubin, click here.

For more on happiness, click here.

 

 

 

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Comments

[dreamjobjunkie]

03:57 PM on 02/16/2012

Laughter makes a huge difference. It diffuses and normalizes stressful situations and it just plain feels good. The best part is, you don't have to be naturally funny or even have a so-called "fun" job because humor is a choice that you make in terms of how you react in the workplace to decrease stress and increase happiness. A lot of our happiness at work has to do with our choices and mindset and ability to adjust it to get what we want by perceiving things differently. For example, I think we first have to be a little bit willing to believe that we are not powerless at work; we possess the ability to set the tone for our day with how we think and how we feel before we even arrive at the office. Another source of stress that we can control is the idea that our jobs define us when in fact we define our jobs by working in our strengths not just the job description. And, most importantly, we can make our work life better just by looking for and noticing as much as possible all the good things about our job instead of concentrating on just the crappy stuff. This is not to make light of anyone's really dreadful situation they might be in — just a note to try to give some way to find relief. I have a radio blog about this very subject called Dream Job Junkie (blogtalkradio.com/dreamjobjunkie) :-)

[getpeace]

08:31 AM on 02/15/2012

I think that bosses set the tone for the workplace. I've worked for the Wicked Witch of the West, and for Glinda the Good Witch of the North.....Glinda brought unlimited levels of productivity out of her staff.
We all looked forward to going to work each day.

[auntie lokie]

07:29 PM on 02/14/2012

I am a firm believer in the statement that "people quit bosses, not jobs." I could substitute bosses for workplaces. When I became a manager, I was excited to finally be the boss I had always wanted. I wanted to ensure people knew they were appreciated and that they could have fun at work. I have found that people who have fun and are able to laugh at themselves are more humble, less spiteful and more productive at work. It actually makes solid business sense to have fun at work!

[remarried]

10:10 PM on 02/13/2012

Had a job I grew and loved..Got my employee's to like where thay worked. We hung out after work and weekend's. And called are wifes and girlfriend's to come to the shop and join in the fun. I got everyone even the wife's a hobby. Dirt bike's and quad's. We rode around the shop on a track we built. went on rides ..Went camping together.
But the work..The work was hard work..We sold and serviced truck tire's in New England. We did loaders off road equip. road calls. Yes slugging at truck tire's by hand ..winter summer. And we loved it..Grew the Company into a big player. Than..The boss came back after He was gone serving in the Gard's. He said I got to Raine you in. Stop the play. Well that Company
is gone. Worker's quit. gave up working for the az. Sold out to Michelin after I left. Cant post the number's I did. Not even 8 year's later. I was told in one review...Last year this month you made 4000. Why do I keep you? he said. I told him.. Was that when you had me open the new store in Portsmouth. And run it for the next 4 month's. Oh yes that's right he said. You got to remind me. F Him!!! Still did not get more pay. Last 6 year's no pay increase. He had a house.. Play car. Boat...Airplane! Three kid's in college.

[gmgpjandon]

10:10 PM on 02/13/2012

Ah yes! The entire population of the world flies a desk.

[belldn3]

09:29 PM on 02/13/2012

Someone tell my boss, I should be having fun at work. Because I don't.

[se72748]

07:29 PM on 02/13/2012

I guess I'm really fortunate.The last ten years have been really fun---------------not so much the work,but the people .Its almost like being in a situation comedy.When your superintendent is a mouse and your supervisor is goofy,it helps.

[redwingirish]

07:21 PM on 02/13/2012

Fun at work?...Work where I do. It's called taking a ride on the buzzsaw!

[joannevlavender]

05:42 PM on 02/13/2012

After all, the chief business of the American people is business. Calvin Coolidge.

American business has exploited workers since the 1800s, if not before. The Poles, Lithuanians, Irish, African-Americans, etc., have ALL been worked in coal mines, in service, on plantations, etc.

Unions for workers' rights were the result of businessmen's greed. It looks like we are headed down that road again.

[blindskeeter]

04:59 PM on 02/13/2012

I had a role playing job at an army base where I would dress up like taliban and ambush soldiers with AK-47 (blanks) for $13.50 an hour. Nothing but fun. This was a side job from an even better job where all I did was show up for 10 minutes and make sure my delivery drivers left with their daily haul for 26 grand a year. I would pour me a cup of coffee and finish it on my way to my friends house to play videos for an hour or two. It gave me a break from taking care of my sick mom. . I would fax reports from my bedroom and that took a whopping 5 minutes. Once a month it took 20 minutes extra. My boss would always call me and I quote, "Greg, you dont have to keep going in everyday".He was 700 miles away in Orlando Florida, Now where I work we do a stretching routine before work and in the time it takes to stretch I would already be on my way home on that easy job. I think I am going to cry now.

[casper48626]

04:28 PM on 02/13/2012

Oh my, I could write a book! At my last job, when I first got there I had to work with someone who thought that they were perfect and everyone else was stupid. I was told, you are trained now, so go do it on your own. This was a major chemical company, so you just didn't send someone out on their own like that. Training there has changed a lot since my first days. I finally got on with a different team and had wonderful luck after that. The first person did everything in their power to make me look bad to everyone, even the bosses! With the second group, we did have fun and I enjoyed going to work and doing it right. At the end of my time at this company, I was no longer having fun! We had one man who did not think that females were capable of doing this work, even though we had been doing it for years. He proceeded to make my life miserable again until I finally moved to a different job and ended up retiring. It is a shame that people can go to the boss and tell lies about people and you cannot prove you are right and that they are wrong. The boss always believed the liars for some reason, even though I had proof and others who stood up for me! But I really did enjoy my job and wanted to work several more years!

[glenaurora]

03:06 PM on 02/13/2012

I think we would all like to have fun at work if possible. It's some of the coworkers that really make a job bearable. With the downsizing and layoffs going on nowdays it can make things quite the opposite of fun. Still, I think we all cherish the good or fun days. On the other hand, we could have no job at all.

[mfuscone]

08:09 PM on 02/13/2012

I've been at the job I have for over ten years now. I haven't ever been burnt out to the point of feeling I had to quit there. The reason is, even though it is challenging work, I do have fun. And no, not horseplay fun. My ten plus years far exceeds my next longest of about three years. So, I must agree that work should have levity, lightheartedness, and fun.

[Capricious Capricorn]

02:28 PM on 02/12/2012

Like poster Jennifer Kley, I must have been employed at the wrong places, now work from my home. My last job was for a huge corporation and it was very high pressure from management, some with tongues like verbal whips to perform....work faster, work harder. It was more like an electronic sweatshop. We even had to put cards on our cubicles to indicate we needed to step out to the ladies room BUT still had to wait our turn as others did the same. You might wait 30 minutes or more.

[joannevlavender]

05:38 PM on 02/13/2012

Your bosses were in violation of labor laws. The laws are specific about how long a break you must have and the maximum time between them.

No workplace is exempt (not even classrooms where, if a teacher needs a restroom break and the office will not accommodate her, she has every right to walk her students to the outside door of the restroom, line them up with a book, go in, close the door, and use the facilities).

It is INHUMANE to ask someone to wait 30 minutes to relieve oneself.

[NoRhymeOrReason]

01:22 PM on 02/12/2012

I have the best job ever! It scored 11 out of 11 on the quiz. Too bad it only pays minimun wage. But, as I have often said, "If we had any more fun, we would have to pay to work here!"

[Jennifer Kley]

01:05 PM on 02/12/2012

The words "fun" and "workplace" have never been synonymous for me. Apparently I've been wrongfully employed. I'm in "awe" of people who love their jobs. They're like mystical creatures to me.
Especially those who (pension excluded) win huge lotteries and continue to work.

http://thecubiclerebel.wordpress.com/

[laceysuarez]

04:36 PM on 02/13/2012

I had a great job that I left when I had my last two children. Unfortunately I have since move to a new city and am unable to find one that is as good or even close. The last one was working for the state and had good benefits but the atmosphere and pay were so bad that I finally quit after a year. I am going to try really hard to find a great job the next time around.

[Dakota Yates]

04:38 PM on 02/13/2012

I've seen a lot of employers in my time that seem to WANT/& NEED sucking up! I've always been somewhat mystified as to why "anyone" would want that? Even in Ferris Bueller, there's a quote: "can you respect someone who kisses your a---?"

Of course I am NOT saying an employer should be a doormat, but Jesus!! Just be a regular human being who can judge your workers individually, not as a group. And treat them individually. And with the same respect and dignity you want!

[Jennifer Kley]

11:14 AM on 02/14/2012

You said it! Amen, Amen, Amen!!