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A nyone who’s spent time scrolling through TLC’s social media feeds knows that we love having fun. Our events and general attitude are a part of the “community that you’ll feel” built from all the great people who’ve been connected through our products and our partners. Having fun at work offers more benefits than just passing the time, though. Many studies show that having fun at work is actually good for business.

The Science of Workplace Fun

A study published by the Journal of Vocational Behavior shows that an atmosphere of fun in the workplace encourages workers’ development and learning. As they said at Business News Daily about the study, providing opportunities for fun makes it easier for co-workers to try new things, fret less over mistakes, and hone new skills.

Having fun at work got a bad reputation during the Tech Boom. We all remember images of workers in their pajamas playing ping pong at the office. No one is advocating for distracting daily disco parties. But happy, comfortable employees are productive, loyal employees, and that happiness is contagious. That’s according to Rhett Power, writing in Inc. Power goes on to say that the happiness brought about by having fun at work inspires creativity, an important asset when you’re struggling to find new ways to reach new customers and compete for fewer available dollars.

Enjoying the Work Day

As the folks at People HR remind us, we spend about a third of our lives at work (before we retire and after we spend some time as kids, I’d hope). It makes sense to build workplaces with our employees’ wellness and sense of fun in mind. People HR suggests including games in the breakroom, offering opportunities for fun outside the workplace (departmental bowling teams, anyone?), and celebrating success both big and small.

I love a good potluck lunch. It encourages everyone to share, it’s extremely cost-effective for a company, and I love any opportunity we can find to have a good meal.

Dollars and Sense

Having fun is good for a business’ bottom line because it encourages the physical and mental wellness of a workforce. Healthier employees are more productive, and they act as fantastic ambassadors to attract the kind of new employees that add to your company’s skillsets.

I built TLC around the people I enjoyed being around most. My best friends form my executive team. I won’t go into the story of how I convinced all of them to join me at Total Life Changes—I dish the details of all that in Believe in More—but I am so grateful they are a part of my company because they make every day a joy. They encouraged me to include having fun at work in TLC’s Core Values, “Having Fun We Get More Done.”

Business is serious, but it doesn’t have to be boring.

Jack Fallon