March Madness, the Christmas season for basketball fans, is uponus again. And with it comes the usual distractions at work: Officepools, water cooler debates and furtive surfing of stats on thework computer. Like any other workplacedistraction, management can make it a better or a worseexperience.

OfficeTeam took a time out to query managers about how MarchMadness-related activities affected office morale and productivity.It found that half the senior managers interviewed said MarchMadness-themed activities at work boosted morale in their shops.Another 36% said March Madness actually contributedto higherproductivity.

When they asked the same questions a year ago, the number foreach were much lower: 32% and 27% respectively.

“Do you feel March Madness activities in the workplace, such aswatching games or participating in pools that don't involve money,have a positive or negative impact on employee morale?”

• Very positive: 9%

• Somewhat positive: 41%

• No impact: 43%

• Somewhat or very negative: 6%

“Do you feel March Madness activities in the workplacehave a positive or negative impact on employee productivity?”

• Very positive: 6%

• Somewhat positive: 30%

• No impact: 49%

• Somewhat negative: 13%

• Very negative: 2%

“Employers that encourage staff to enjoy events like MarchMadness recognize that these activities don't have to be viewed asnegative workplace distractions,” OfficeTeam ExecutiveDirector Robert Hosking said. “Organizing friendly contests orwatching big games together can give employees much-needed breaksand opportunities to build camaraderie.”