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ENCOURAGING fun and play in the workplace is essential for today's business to be successful, according to Australian team building and corporate culture expert Dwain Richardson.
Richardson, who has dedicated his career to bringing fun and games into businesses across Australia, says a fun workplace culture has many and varied benefits.
"It will actually increase the productivity of staff even if there is time set aside for 'play' activities," says Richardson.
"A work culture that is fun will also increase staff engagement, foster creativity, promote teamwork and lift overall job satisfaction levels. In turn, this will reduce staff turnover, and sick and stress leave days.
"I have certainly seen a greater focus for Australian business, particularly over the past decade, in bringing fun and play into work."
Richardson says 'fun' and 'play' does not mean staff "messing around" and losing sight of what the business goals and objectives are.
"It simply means the business identifying and incorporating activities into the workplace that bring smiles and laughter to generate satisfaction, productivity, engagement, creativity and teamwork," he says.
"Three popular ways in workplaces today are regular games or competitions, staff gatherings and team building activities.
"It might be a game to achieve business targets to participating in a staff footy tipping competition.
"Staff gatherings may be birthday activities, professional development days or company milestone celebrations.
"Team building activities are very popular as they are not only focused on fun but also on teamwork, communication, leadership and positive corporate social responsibility outcomes."
Richardson highlighted that recent research shows more school leavers and university graduates are prioritising work-life balance over money.
"We are finding more people entering the workforce today are prioritising enjoyment and happiness at work than a few decades ago when there was a greater focus on earning money to support a household," he says.
"Ever since I made a commitment to enjoying my work life, I have dedicated my career to helping others find the fun in their work lives and develop fun work cultures. In our company we live and breathe that 'positive team cultures create success'."
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