Press Room

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 15, 2007 — Nearly half of U.S. workers (49 percent) have participated in an office pool and nearly one quarter (23 percent) have watched or followed sports events on the computer while at work, according to the latest Spherion^® Workplace Snapshot survey conducted by Harris Interactive^®. Employer policy may be a loose ball, however, with half of U.S. workers (50 percent) saying their employer does not have a policy regarding office pools, and 41 percent reporting they do not know or are not sure.

The survey also found that 10 percent of U.S. workers have called in sick to watch or attend, or as a result of watching or attending, a sports event—with men twice as likely as women to have done so (14 percent vs. seven percent). Men are also twice as likely (30 percent vs. 14 percent) to have watched or followed sports events on the computer while at work, and more men participate in office pools than women (55 percent vs. 43 percent).

“Considering these survey findings, and with March Madness in full swing, U.S. companies could really take a hit in terms of productivity,” said Nancy Halverson, vice president of talent management for Spherion. “However, it’s also a concern that nearly 91 percent of U.S. workers say either their employer doesn’t have a policy regarding office pools or they aren’t sure.” 

Halverson says this should be a tip-off for employers who do not want to condone or encourage such pools at work. “Some employers may not be concerned about office pools. But, for those who are apprehensive about potential productivity losses or distractions that can result from office pools, the first step in sidelining the practice is to clearly communicate the company’s policy about it.” 

Other results from the most recent Spherion Workplace Snapshot Survey:

Not for rookies: The older workers are, the more likely they are to have participated in an office pool. 

• The survey finds that only 11 percent of workers aged 18 to 24 have participated in an office pool, compared to 77 percent of workers 65 and older.
• Thirty-six percent of workers aged 25 to 29 have participated in an office pool, compared to 53 percent of workers aged 30 to 39, 56 percent aged 40 to 49, and 57 percent aged 50 to 64. This may be a result of longer careers and more time in the workplace.
• Almost half of surveyed workers have participated in an office pool at one time or another (49 percent). 

• Half of U.S. workers (50 percent) say their employer does not have a policy regarding office pools.
• Four in ten (41 percent) either don’t know, or are not sure whether their employer has such a policy.
• Only 10 percent say that their employer does have a policy regarding office pools.

• Fully 90 percent of U.S. workers say they have never called in sick for this reason, compared to 10 percent who have.
• Workers aged 25 to 29 represented the largest percentage (at 13 percent) of those who have called in sick to watch or attend, or as a result of watching or attending, a sports event.
• Workers 65 and older are the least likely to have called in sick to watch or attend a sports event, with only four percent having done so.

Technical foul: Almost one-quarter of workers have watched or followed sports events on the computer while at work. 

• Workers aged 30 to 39 are most likely to have watched or followed sports events on the computer while at work (32 percent).

• Workers aged 25 to 29 represented the largest percentage (at 13 percent) of those who have called in sick to watch or attend, or as a result of watching or attending, a sports event.

• Workers 65 and older are the least likely to have done so (four percent).