Success in any business comes from a productive staff; a happy staff IS a productive staff!
Some examples of how the world's largest organizations are wholeheartedly
embracing playfulness, humour and laughter. It is the experience of companies like these whose success with laughter inspired this exciting new service for the workplace!
1. Deloitte & Touche:
This company's belief is that too many hours are spent at work for
it not to be fun. Deloitte and Touche therefore embark on laughter
initiatives that encourage a more collaborative, supportive, inclusive
and entrepreneurial environment creating a culture that is about
"enjoying each other, being passionate about what you do, and having
fun while you do it!"
2. NHS Tayside:
This NHS body has recently undertaken laughter initiatives to support
their health and wellbeing policies. By training key employees on
using laughter in the workplace, the body aims to use these individuals
as advocates for laughter at work and spread the idea across the
organisation: "[the] programme is aimed at all staff to address
issues that affect staff health, wellbeing and safety. It also encourages
health boards to work collaboratively, both within and outwith the
sector, to develop innovative and effective ways of maximising staff
potential".
3. Ben & Jerry's:
This well-known ice cream manufacturer uses humour in its daily
routine by having a committee that arrange monthly activities to
reinforce the value of humour at work. Such initiatives have enabled
them to "discover that the punch line is not that far from the bottom
line [and that] if you want to get more out of your employees, make
sure that they are having a good time at work".
4. South West Airlines:
This US airline strongly endorses the importance of fun at work;
from looking for a sense of humour in prospective employees, to
presenting organisational results via rap music and videos. This
is one organisation that wants "its employees to take their jobs
seriously but not themselves".