The Levity Effect

KPMG is one of the Big Four accounting firms; you'd probably think that it wouldn't be one of your prospects if you were looking for a fun place to work. However, bestselling author Adrian Gostick and humorist Scott Christopher explain in their book, "The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up", that KMPG has been making an effort during the past few years to become more people-centric, as well as a fun place to work.

The company introduced an initiative to thank employees for their hard work and commitment, celebrate successes, and bring more fun and camaraderie into the workplace. They started with the "Movie Madness Challenge" and then went on to do things such as mail their employees gift certificates for free steaks, and to have a "National Vacation Challenge" with prizes awarded for those who uploaded the best vacation photos.

These initiatives helped the firm earn a spot on Forbes' "100 Best Companies to Work For". In addition, KMPG's employee turnover is at a historic low. In "The Levity Effect" Gostick and Christopher explain that more and more companies are discovering that introducing fun and humor into the workplace increases employee loyalty, creativity, and productivity.

photo credit: Mykl Roventine

One way to increase levity at work is to have a designated room filled with toys. This can include hula hoops, Play-Doh, silly putty, wooden blocks, Legos, and even foam swords. You can also have stand-up comedy DVDs and audio tapes. A ping pong table or a foosball table could also be popular additions.

You can also have a bulletin board in the "toy room" where employees are encouraged to put up jokes and cartoons, as well as candid photos of co-workers. One office went as far as to decorate one wall of their "toy room" with a mural created by everyone in the office.

photo credit: Unhindered by Talent