Christine is a content developer. She says, she enjoys her job not because of how much she is paid but because of the fun and joy she gets at her workplace. For her, a dormant workplace hinders workers from getting boosted to work. She believes it’s the small things that make workers happy, for instance, organising parties for them on their special days such as birthdays, promotions, anniversaries or end of year parties. Christine says that the company she works for treats all workers equally, unlike her former job where there was segregation as some employees were considered more valuable than others due to their positions and academic levels, something she says lowered the self-esteem of many. According to her, once in a while workers should have a football, volleyball or sports tournament just to have fun and relax from work or go for a trip, and that this is something that doesn’t have to be on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. The joy, morale and confidence that come with a fun working place, is unexplainable. In the book “The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up”, bestselling author Adrian Gostick and humorist Scott Christopher disclose how humour in the workplace has the benefits such as; helping build friendships, increases productivity, enhances employee satisfaction and loyalty and encourages creativity and innovation for a better workplace and bigger profits. Business Insider states that work doesn’t have to be all business, all the time. Although you need to maintain your professionalism — but that doesn’t mean you can’t crack a smile or a joke. When you smile and laugh, others around you will do the same as it’s contagious! And your office will be an all-around happier place to be. For Ruth Teta, a business personnel in Kigali, fun is a must have in the workplace because it reduces stress, energises people and makes them more creative because it allows them to think playfully and loosen up. She explains that work managers ought to come up with weekly or monthly challenges that employees can participate in as a fun motivator. Such competitions light up the mood and the winner is awarded, which encourages people to participate. Teta is also of the view that your company can start an initiative to set aside a small percentage of the profits for employee parties and events. Employees will work harder knowing that they will be rewarded for their efforts and acknowledged for their contributions. “Enjoying time with colleagues in a relaxed and fun environment encourages honest and open discussion and trust between each other. If you are friendly with the people you work with, rather than just being colleagues, you are expected to work better together and communicate more effectively,” she says. Some studies over the last two decades have revealed that when workplaces make fun a factor, it creates happier employees that feel more satisfied. And happy employees are all around better at their jobs. Workplace fun has been linked to enhanced motivation, increased productivity, reduced stress, higher job satisfaction and improved task performance. For Bob Pike, the author of ‘The Fun Minute Manager,’ a fun work environment is one in which formal and informal activities occur regularly that are designed to lift people’s spirits and remind them of their value to their managers, their organisation, and to each other. Some of these activities include, the use of humour; games, celebrations, opportunities for self-development; or recognition of achievements and milestones.
