Fun at work isn’t frivolous after all

Many employees are keen to have more social events at work. Who knew?

THOUGH YOU MIGHT be one who grumbles every time a work-sponsored happy hour, lunch outing or after-work social event gets put on your calendar, a new survey from ADP Canada finds that these events remain “relatively infrequent” for many workers in Canada, as well as finding that the bulk of employees actually value these events, even with their less-than-popular reputation.

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The data comes from ADP Canada’s latest National Work Happiness survey, which overall found that Canadian workers scored a 6.8/10 on the happiness scale — largely unchanged over the past year.

This survey also sought to get a read on what the social life of the average workplace looks like, and it found that workplace social events were infrequent, but that workers did ultimately find them valuable.

Fifty per cent of employees said their company organizes social events “at least quarterly,” but that one in five employees said their company organizes only a couple social events per year, with “team lunches or meals and holiday or seasonal events” the most common form. Forty per cent of employees said going to these social events created a greater sense of belonging, while 38 per cent said they improved teamwork, and 37 per cent said they improved morale.

“Creating opportunities for employees to connect in meaningful ways can have a lasting impact on the workplace,” said Heather Haslam, VP of marketing at ADP Canada. “Although lighthearted social events are relatively infrequent for many workers, employees consistently associate these moments with stronger relationships, a greater sense of belonging, improved teamwork and higher morale.”

Unfortunately for the millennials and Gen Zers out there, who are perhaps the most culturally dismissive of workplace social events, the evidence also found they are the most unhappy at work — although perhaps the real story is that boomers are far and away the happiest employees (and appear to be getting happier.) The simple takeaway? Attend the workplace lunch and the happy hour drinks, if you can. You might make a friend out of it — and friends at work are a valuable thing.

“Having friends at work is critical to success and engagement,” said Joe Hart, president of Dale Carnegie (a professional development firm founded by the original Carnegie). “Nurture your own friendships and encourage others to make friends at work. When you do, your company will benefit.” Kieran Delamont