It’s Rio time! The Summer Olympics have begun in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and most of us are setting up the DVR to catch the action. Not coincidentally, the Opening Ceremony—the must-watch—is always on a weekend. But what happens during the workweek when the U.S. women’s gymnastics team goes for gold under the brilliant coaching of 73-year old Martha Karolyi? Our own Ohioan, Gabby Douglas, is part of this highly anticipated team and will be doing her best to succeed.
We’ll also be watching 22 Grand Slam singles tennis player Serena Williams, and former accountant at Ernst & Young, now triathlete, Gwen Jorgensen. Who would want to miss even a second of their action? And don’t forget Ashton Eaton, the 28-year old from Oregon who hopes to win the first back-to-back medals for decathlon since Bob Mathias in 1948 and 1952.
There’s speculation in the business world that more than a few employees will be asking for time off, calling in sick, having to “take the dog to the vet,” or outright playing hooky. And some of that hooky-playing is likely to take place right at their desk!
With live streaming on every computer, tablet, and mobile device, how could an employee not take a few minutes to watch Katie Ledecky or Michael Phelps dominate in the Olympic pool, or take 49 seconds to watch Allyson Felix sprint 400 meters?
Office workers know not to watch sports while at work, but according to The Workforce Institute, basketball, gymnastics, and swimming are the top 3 they want to watch. If you have a “no streaming” or “no TV” policy, you might want to check the Olympic schedule when these top favorites are competing live.
One solution, the survey suggests, is to set up a viewing party in a break room and allow employees to adjust their schedule to accommodate their favorite sport or competitor.
“Simply put, embracing the Olympics at work can help reduce the risk of unplanned absence, loss of productivity and distractions on the job.” Source: Workplace Institute Survey
You’ve been warned. Now, it’s RIO Time!