Every March I’ve done a piece on Productivity in the Workplace during March Madness. I felt guilty this year because I too was sneaking peeks and filling in a bracket at work. I was asked to join at a client and jumped in. I listened as seven people stood around for 15 minutes talking about their brackets. Production always takes a hit during the Madness. This year 16 games were played during work hours in the first round. The calculator in my head was adding up the payroll costs. It can ruin the fun for the productivity obsessed.
Twenty two percent of people watched games via streaming this year. In the first round alone, there were 9.4 million combined hours viewed on March Madness Live. On Social Media there were 77 million impressions from Official March Madness accounts, up 16%.
As I was streaming the Loyola game I found it…. THE BOSS BUTTON
Go back to those stats! 9.4 million hours viewed on March Madness Live – 16 games during work time, only counting 1st shift. The NCAA got sneaky. There is a button to click to make March Madness Live look like you are being productive at work, school or home.
A quick click changes your screen quickly to a work presentation, a physics research page or a fake home improvement search.
The fan in me thinks this is amazing, but the HR lady, Mom and Wife can’t help but give a little side eye. I see you NCAA!
As I embrace Loyola, Sister Jean and my busted bracket, I encourage you to give some slack to your employees. Chalk it up to team building and celebrate the Madness. Don’t be surprised if you walk by your employees and everyone is working on the same “presentation”.
Interested in more March Madness Stats…. 
don't bite the apple...work is not a fairy tale! 
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