What does fun at work look like and why’s it important? (2023)

Bored and tired at work? Sadly, you’re not alone.

In fact, the “boreout” phenomenon is a prominent feature in today’s battle to overcome workers’ profound lack of motivation and enthusiasm.
As Forbes boldly states that boredom at work is more dangerous than burnout and GALLUP’s most recent State of the Global Workplace Report reveals employee engagement to be as low as 21%, we find ourselves wondering why people aren’t feeling engaged and fulfilled in their work.

It’s no surprise then that this lack of engagement is also having other significant impacts on companies. In the US alone, low employee engagement has been costing companies $450-500 billion each year with regards to loss of business and staff turnover. On the flip side, research supports the notion that fun at work is healthy, not just for people but for business too. A whopping 81% of employees at companies ranked as “great”’ used the word “fun” to describe their workplace environment.

With the stats addressed, let’s find out through the joyful perspective of Jenny Theolin what can be done to help increase fun and engagement in the workplace.

Listen up leaders and facilitators, you have a crucial role to play.

JT: It’s a fast-paced work environment out there today, so it can of course be challenging to dedicate time to engage and motivate employees. This is where learning experience design and facilitation can play a significant role in unlocking fun and engagement at work. These secret weapons can bring such strategies as gamification, interactive activities, personalisation, humour, and creative facilitation to the table. Meetings can be repositioned as a learning experience above anything else, where those extra educational and enjoyable factors can be added.

This then creates a knock-on effect, as a fun and enjoyable learning experience can lead to a more productive, innovative, and happy workforce. Employees that are engaged and enjoying what they’re doing are far more likely to absorb information, apply it to the job at hand, and feel satisfied with their work. Moreover, incorporating these strategies can foster a positive learning culture that promotes creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

JT: This is one of the main causes of boredom at work. Employees need opportunities to grow and develop their skills, and they also need to be given tasks that challenge them. This not only keeps them engaged, but it also helps them to feel valued and appreciated.

JT: Employees need to know what is expected of them and they need to understand how their work fits into the bigger picture. This clarity helps to create a sense of purpose and direction, which is essential for motivation and engagement.

JT: Creating a work environment that encourages creativity and innovation is also vital. People are naturally creative and curious, and they thrive when they’re given the freedom to experiment and explore new ideas. So help your people to achieve this by providing opportunities for collaboration, creating thinking sessions, and other forms of creative expression.