Music Soothes the Savage Employee

Misery loves company. I just hope it doesn’t love my company. So, I asked my staff for ideas on how we can make the workplace a, dare I say it, fun place to be. While it may seem magnanimous for a boss to want employees to have fun at work, this approach is not without bottom line motivation. People who want to be at work, more often, will be at work. They are less likely to be clockwatching and therefore more productive. While I was expecting requests for an air hockey table, a tequila bar and a Wii set up in the conference room, the most requested addition to our office was music. Music, I can do. Since the musical tastes of my employees range from Top 40 pop to hard core punk to reggae, we had to set some guidelines. My only stipulation was that the music could not have vocals, because singing can be distracting. The group voted for jazz. We set up an iPod and speakers and loaded a playlist with jazz greats. Before The Dave Brubeck Quartet finished Take Five, the mood in the room was significantly lighter. As I looked around people were working and smiling. While I’m on vacation this week, I can relax knowing our newest office mates - Mr. Brubeck and Mr. Coltrane – are keeping my employees smiling and misery in someone else’s office.