Should Work Be Fun?
© Jason Torchio
Abraham Maslow's Needs Hierarchy posits that an individual would be satisfied with his or her job at any given point in time if certain needs were met. The five levels of the hierarchy are:
- Basic biological needs;
- Safety needs;
- Social needs;
- Ego needs; and
- Self-actualization needs.
Perhaps Maslow forgot to add one additional level to his hierarchy: the need for humor and fun at work!
To many people, "work" is the most vulgar of the four-letter words. The thought of waking up on Monday morning to start another week of work is more than some people can stand. These are the employees who arrive late to work, call in sick, or even worse - make it in to work, perform poorly, and bring down morale. You know these people. You work with them. You're related to them. You might even be one of them.
A full-time employee spends more time on the job than s/he spends with his or her loved ones. "Working nine to five" isn't only lyrics to a song from yesteryear but also a work schedule from a long time ago and what seems like in a galaxy far, far away. Fifty-hour workweeks are now more the rule than the exception.
As long as we're spending so much of our time at work, why not introduce some fun and humor into it?
According to Hal Rosenbluth, CEO of Rosenbluth International, it is "almost inhumane if companies create a climate where people can't naturally have fun. Our role and responsibility as leaders and associates is to create a place where people can enjoy themselves. I know our company is doing well when I walk around and hear people laughing." 1
Rosenbluth isn't the only chief executive who feels this way. Herb Kelleher, Chairman, President, and CEO of Southwest Airlines Inc., posed the rhetorical question, "Who says a lighthearted approach to business is incompatible with success?" 2
Steven Sultanoff, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, believes that humor can be used to facilitate communication, build relationships, reduce stress, provide perspective and energize employees. 3
Terrill Fischer and Ann L. Fry, both of humor-based consulting and training firm Humor University, assert in one of their articles that when characteristics of fun are apparent in the workplace you will notice that your employees:
