How To Make Your Workplace More Fun

Fun workplaces are attractive to prospective and current employees alike, with the majority of graduates saying they would rather work at a business with a positive social atmosphere. Plus, research shows that taking breaks can boost productivity. Such breaks can provide a reprieve from work while still stimulating ideas and collaboration.

There are a variety of ideas to make your workplace more fun, while also fostering great ideas and creating a closer-knit team:

Provide Fun Photo Ops

Bring in a professional photographer for a day, or set up a camera booth or room to encourage staff to take photos, no matter how silly. Include props, masks and games to entice fun photo ops. As a bonus, you can use these photos on social media to visually emphasize your business’s fun workplace culture and close-knit team, always a plus for potential customers, clients and partners.

Organize Games With Fun Prizes

Games are a great way to foster fun competition. However, it’s time to go beyond the ping-pong table that nobody uses. Try something more fun, like a Skee Ball table, which can be had for around the same price. If there’s a dedicated parking spot with desirable proximity, offer it for a month as a prize for that month’s high school. Or just have people play for fun. Regardless of its size, a business can organize games and activities in tournament form to nurture team-building and keep the mind and body sharp.

Bring in a Comedian

Check out your local comedy club and offer whoever performs the funniest set the opportunity to come into the workplace and perform. Their cost will likely be worth the unifying laughter and enjoyable break employees will experience. Research shows that comedy can bolster productivity, too. A U.K. study finds that productivity increases by an average of 12 percent and as high as 20 percent among employees after viewing a comedy clip and enjoying snack and drinks. On that note …

Offer Food and Refreshments

Bringing in delicious, free food and drinks may not seem like the most creative idea, but it’s one of the most foolproof ways to get a team in a good mood. Providing sustenance in the morning can be especially useful in boosting productivity, since a lack of breakfast can lead to health issues and fatigue. Orange juice, fresh fruit and an occasional pastry can go a long way in making the general workspace more fun, with no one in a bad mood due to their rumbling stomach.

Set the Tone

Small-business owners need to set the tone to establish a looser, though still productive, office climate. While maintaining their focus and passion for the work at hand, these owners should strive to take the lead when presenting fun activities. Show enthusiasm about a board game by passionately explaining the rules. Take an interest in suggestions from others on how to make the office more fun. The office will likely detect genuine efforts on behalf of an owner and make efforts to align, especially since it’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t like fun.

A fun workplace can result in greater productivity and a more closely knit office, making these recommended activities worthwhile pursuits.

Scott Huntington is a writer from Harrisburg PA. Find his work on Business Insider, Yahoo Autos, Time, INC, and more. Follow him on Twitter @SMHuntington.