March Madness in the workplace: Fun or foul?

March Madness began this week and millions of Americans are now involved in one of the nation’s most intense 21 days of athletic competition. Sports enthusiasts all over the nation have put in their brackets and are now watching their choices play out.

It starts with 68 teams -- for just the men’s tournament alone – and ends with one national champion, the last team standing. With such intense competition and an outcome that cannot easily be identified by even the best analysts, sports enthusiasts all over the nation are already on the edge of their seats.

If not managed properly March Madness can be a real problem in the workplace. It might seem ludicrous to say the enthusiasm and love for the tournament has to be left at home during the workweek.  Doesn’t that take away friendly, casual inter-office casual competition? March Madness can’t be that big of a deal if it is only 21 days out of the year right?

Most of the games during the first week are broadcasted mid-afternoon and are full of action that one would not want to miss during the workday. Service providers like Verizon Wireless and DirectTV make watching the games as easy as a click of a button. So the occasional check-in from your computer or phone isn’t that big of a deal – or is it? RetailMeNot conducted a survey with The Omnibus Company and recently reported that almost three in 10 professionals plan to watch March Madness at work. Additionally, the survey found that 39 percent plan to watch the games right from their work computers.

This doesn’t account for employees that may be watching or checking scores on their cell phones or mobile devices. For employers, this amounts to a distracted and less productive workplace. It can result in poor work performance and costly mistakes by employees. Employers are still paying wages throughout March Madness, meaning countless dollars are spent on employees working absent-mindedly or not working at all.

As if distracted employees, low production and the sunken cost of wages aren’t enough – take into account bracket pools amongst employees. While bracket pools often are a friendly betting competition between co-workers, a company needs to think about the impact these activities can have over the long term.

Depending on how management handles the situation with employees, there could be serious consequences such as employee grievances, disciplinary actions and even discrimination/harassment claims. What if a company allows the March Madness bracket pools as a fun inner office activity but doesn’t want to allow a bracket pool for the NBA Finals or even the NFL playoffs? Then there is the gambling in the workplace that doesn’t include sports related competitions.

It’s important to think about how to respond to employee issues that may come as a result of bracket pools gone wrong. Is a company prepared to take disciplinary action against employees that take the friendly competition too far?  What exactly is a company’s disciplinary policy on matters like this. The outcome of these situations can have long-lasting and potential legal liabilities.

March Madness can be an opportunity for an afternoon mental break and some friendly fun between co-workers. Important for companies to remember, however, that unless these activities are carefully monitored and managed in compliance with company policies, March Madness can create the kind of madness in the workplace that doesn't do anyone any good.

GOP roundup at Riverbend Ranch

Shaking hands with former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. (Photo by Melissa Bristol)

I typically steer clear of politics on BizMojo Idaho, but when I got an invitation to the Republican roundup Wednesday night at Frank and Belinda VanderSloot's Riverbend Ranch I figured, "Why not?"

This was a campaign event for U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, who is facing a primary challenge from Bryan Smith in nine weeks. Gov. Butch Otter, who also faces a primary challenge, was there, as was U.S. Sen. Jim Risch. But the real star of this GOP cattle call was 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, on hand to encourage the faithful to open their checkbooks.

"Dig deep," he said. "Vote, and get your friends to vote. I'm not elected these days, but I can sure fight hard."

Perhaps the most passionate words of the evening came from the host himself, Frank VanderSloot, making his introduction and seeking to refute any suggestion that Simpson might not be conservative enough to serve in Congress.

"I don't know what the litmus test is for a conservative anymore," he said. Simpson has A+ ratings from the National Rifle Association, Right to Life and the United States Chamber of Commerce (on whose board of directors VanderSloot sits). Were Simpson to lose the primary, it would mean at best a loss of clout in the House, because of Simpson's seniority, and at worst the loss of the seat altogether. "If Mike doesn't win, we're likely to have a Democrat in Congress," he said, casting a momentary chill over an otherwise upbeat program.

Romney was his affable self, giving liberals the benefit of being fine Americans, just misguided. "We're right and they're wrong," he said, quoting President Reagan's answer to a question about the difference between conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats.

Otter showed his usual reverence to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers, but could someone please tell him that George Washington's name has only one R in it?

During the meet and greet that followed I shook Governor Romney's hand, because I do agree that we're all American's and that we can be friends with each other. Having lost an election myself, I could relate to some of the things he said.

Ty Jenkins honored by Mortgage Banking magazine

Ty Jenkins

Ty Jenkins, founder and CEO of DocuTech Corp., a leading provider of compliance and documentation technology, has been named one of Mortgage Banking magazine’s 2014 Tech All-Stars. The Tech All-Stars is an annual list honoring mortgage industry professionals who continue to innovate in an adverse regulatory environment.

According to a press release announcing the honor, Jenkins was selected due to his ongoing mission to simplify the loan documentation process while achieving compliance through DocuTech’s concept of a dynamic documents platform; one of the first of its kind introduced in 1991.

DocuTech’s flagship software, ConformX®, transforms an Internet connection into a closing document office and incorporates all data from one system into the user’s loan origination software, reducing data re-entries and producing compliant closing documents.

Sunnyside Sweets offers Tuesday specials

Brittany Warnick, left, waits on (l to r) Jasmine Harris, Abigail Sanchez-Gibson, Brenna Gibson and Ashley Rydalch at Sunnyside Sweets mid-day Tuesday.

I went out Hitt Road today to see how the new Indian restaurant, Tandoori Oven is coming along. Located where Play and Trade used to be, it looks like there's still some work to be done.

Here's some news, though. Across the road at Sunnyside Sweets Candy Shoppe they were having a Tuesday special of 75 cents for a kids scoop ice cream cone (last week it was $1 Italian sodas). They have 22 flavors from which to choose, although the very popular Play-Doh blend probably won't be back until summer, said Brittany Warnick, a BYU-Idaho student who has been working behind the counter since the store opened in October.

Owners Tara and Jarom Christensen, who own the Sunnyside Plaza building in which Sunnyside Sweets sits, are going for a retro feel, with lots of old school candy varieties and sodas. A lot of them they buy through Amazon, Warnick said. I was pleased to find my favorite, Turkish Taffy, and a new flavor to boot (blue raspberry; it was OK, but I still think I'll stick with chocolate, vanilla, banana and strawberry.)

I did not find loose Bazooka gum, which I would really like. The last place to have that was Common Cents on South Boulevard, and I'm pretty sure it was during the first Bush administration.

The big screen TV on the wall is usually playing "The Wizard of Oz," "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" or "E.T.", although they have others they play around Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.

In parting, I would like to ask whether you think Idaho Falls has a sweet tooth. In addition to Sunnyside Sweets, we have Aunt Annie's Kitchen, Sarah's Candy Cottage, Candy Junction on West Broadway and Love at First Bite. Tell me what you think.

 

Plats filed for convenience store, new credit union branch

I wish I had more to share on this blustery, snowy Monday, but my survey of site plans, plats, etc., at the Idaho Falls City Hall Annex yields only two items:

A new Safari 66 convenience store at the southwest corner of Skyline Pancheri. This project has been platted by the Drs. Justin and Joshua Bell, partners in Riverwest Dental next door.

A new Idaho Central Credit Union branch near the intersection of First Street and Hitt Road. This is on that small section of Idaho Falls that protrudes east of Hitt, just north of the Arctic Circle.

Rest assured we will stay on top of these projects as they progress and keep you posted on new ones as the papers and plans are filed.