Look at job postings, company about us pages, and even LinkedIn posts and you’ll find a common thread—businesses are laser focused on productivity, efficiency and communication. Which is great because that’s what a business is for.

But one thing that often gets overlooked is whether employees actually enjoy being at work. 

People aren’t machines that can clock in, work at 100% every single day and clock out. We naturally feel stressed, bored, uninspired, and frustrated. Now, employees who genuinely enjoy their workplace tend to bring  more energy, creativity, and commitment to their roles. And the best part? Business leaders that prioritize fun at work often see boosts in the very metrics they care about most—performance, retention, and even revenue.

So, how do you create an environment where employees actually like being there? Let’s start with what “fun at work” really means.

What makes a fun workplace?

Fun at work is the feeling of enjoyment and engagement workers get when they truly enjoy being in their work environment. It often shows in the way employees share ideas with each other, build relationships, and communicate openly. 

Some workplaces actively cultivate the 'fun' element by adding in breakout areas, games consoles and ping pong tables, hammocks and bean bags and yoga classes or fun events during work hours.

Now, the very idea of employees slacking off and doing everything except working will frighten even the most lenient manager. But thankfully, that’s not what we mean when we say fun at work. It’s more about being able to break up the monotony of everyday tasks, find reasons to stay engaged, and actually care about the job.

Why fun at work is important

Some people swear by the saying, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” and others think it’s complete BS. But regardless of where you stand, one thing is certain—workplace fun makes tasks easier to manage, reduces stress and even cultivates a creative environment.

In fact people tend to put more love and effort into tasks that they find fun. One study by the University of Oxford found that happy workers are 13% more productive. So employees can and should have fun at work because it helps not just the execution of their tasks, but also their mental health and overall well-being.

But that’s just the beginning. As we’ve learned from trends like soft quitting and workplace ownership, it’s not all about productivity and the bottom line. Employee wellbeing matters too. and those benefit tremendously from a fun work environment.

1. Happier employees, higher productivity

A happy workforce is a productive one. When work feels rewarding, people naturally put in more effort. They’re more focused, less distracted, and more willing to go the extra mile.

Read More: How to Create a Happy Workplace

2. Lower employee turnover

High turnover costs businesses thousands per employee (more than 50% of the position's annual salary on average, according to G&A Partners.) But workers who are having fun at work have higher employee retention and are less likely to quit.

In fact, Gallup found that they are 59% less likely to look for another job. That’s less financial strain and less of a productivity hit when employees need to be replaced.

3. Teams collaborate better

When people like where they work, they’re more likely to connect with their colleagues. That often translates to better teamwork and collaboration.

A Harvard study found that teams with strong social bonds perform 20% better than those with weak connections. So those fun moments—conversations over lunch breaks, office traditions, or inside jokes— can actually strengthen your workforce.

4. Reduced workplace stress

Work will get stressful; that’s a given. But simple fun experiences at work can be a  natural stress reliever for your workers.

A study by the American Institute of Stress found that workplace stress leads to $300 billion in lost productivity each year—so reducing stress isn’t just good for morale, it’s good for business.

5. More creativity and innovation

A rigid, overly serious environment doesn’t leave much room for innovation. Instead, you may find that people remain incredibly methodological about everything they do, following the prescribed formulas and never straying.

But when your people  feel comfortable and engaged, they’re more likely to contribute new, potentially industry breaking ideas that grows your business.

How do you make work fun for your employees?

Celebrate national fun at work day

The last Friday of every January is National Fun at Work Day–possibly one of the lowest hanging fruits when it comes to creating fun at work. Celebrating can be an easy win for your business, workplace fun, culture and employee engagement. 

You can choose to celebrate it in different ways, from having board games at an office-wide game tournament to having a simple office party.

Here’s another reason to celebrate National Fun at Work Day: It closely follows Blue Monday, which is the most depressing Monday of the year. Your workers definitely deserve to remember all the reasons why work is fun

Here are some other fun work holidays that you could celebrate:

• National intern day (last Thursday in July)
• National employee appreciation day (first Friday in March)
• National leave work early day (June 2)

Create fun office traditions

While we’re talking about having things to celebrate, it’s also a good idea to set up small, recurring events that your people can look forward to. After all, traditions can create a sense of belonging and give employees moments to break away from daily tasks, all without losing focus of their work. 

You could have these weekly, monthly, or tied to milestones, but they should be something that makes the workplace feel more engaging.

Encourage friendly competitions

A little friendly competition can get people excited and motivated in the office; especially among teams that try to out-perform each other. As with any kind of motivation, your employees need something to work towards, so instead of generic prizes, let winners pick their own reward. 

Options like leaving an hour early, choosing the office playlist, or a work lunch can make winning feel more special.

Surprise perks are always fun

Everybody loves a surprise. In fact, brain-based research has found that surprises can intensify emotions by up to 400%.

So what does this mean for creating a fun workplace?

Well, unexpected treats or small rewards can lift the mood in the office and make employees feel valued. These don’t have to be expensive or elaborate—small gestures like free snacks, impromptu coffee delivery, or employee celebration can go a long way in creating an enjoyable work environment.

Make meetings more engaging

Businesses invest a lot of money in office communication systems and tools that make it easier to communicate. One thing we haven’t found a tool for is how to make meetings more fun. Unless of course, you actively decide to inject a little bit of creativity. 

It could be as simple as starting with a fun icebreaker, holding the meeting in a separate space, or incorporating interactive elements like polls. Or, if you use a corporate digital signage solution to manage your meeting rooms, you can display dynamic content to keep everyone engaged.

When in doubt, add some fun quotes

A well-placed, comical quote can brighten someone’s day or provide a little motivation when needed. Most people might eye-roll hard at the “hard work pays” style quotes. But witty, inspiring, or thought-provoking sayings can really add personality to your work space.

Here are some fun ones to get you rolling:

• Coffee: Because hard work is hard
• Teamwork means never having to take the blame alone
• Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life. Unless what you love is sleeping, then you’re out of luck
• If at first you don’t succeed, redefine success

Make the office space beautiful

An inviting, visually appealing office can actually make your employees look forward to coming in. It could start with a splash of color, artwork, or even fun lighting; dull gray walls don’t inspire anyone.

You could also consider letting employees decorate their workstations with plants, photos, or small personal items that help them feel more connected to their workspace.

Read More: How to Set up a Creative Office Space.

Recognize and celebrate big and small wins

Study after study has shown that people are ready to walk away from jobs that don’t recognize their hard work. So for many managers, sending congratulations to the whole team is a low hanging fruit when it comes to rewarding employees and making their work more fun. 

Naturally, a great way to increase your employees' job satisfaction is to set up a digital recognition board where you can effortlessly share content around employee achievements within the company. You could also use other avenues like town hall and brown bag meetings, newsletters, or even a dedicated Slack channel. 

Encourage after office gatherings

Not all workplace bonding has to happen during “trust-building” exercises mediated by a consultant. Gatherings after work hours are more relaxed and they give employees a chance to unwind, socialize, and build friendships outside of their usual work interactions. Whether it’s casual drinks, game nights, or team dinners, these moments can create stronger connections and improve team dynamics.

A good tip to keep in mind is that the gathering is supposed to be relaxed and fun, not create another work obligation.

Host a potluck

Food has a way of bringing people together, and a potluck is an easy, low-cost way to encourage team bonding. When you incorporate fun activities with company events like this, it allows employees to share their favorite dishes, learn about each other’s cultures, and break away from the usual lunch routine.

As with any food based gathering, you want a mix of options. So avoid an all-dessert potluck (or worse, too much of the same dish), ask your people to sign up for different categories like appetizers, entrees, or drinks.

Gamify work challenges

If you're looking to keep your employees happy, try gamification. It can make tasks feel more rewarding by adding a layer of challenge, progress tracking, and small incentives.

You could use your office digital signage screens to display gamification progress and keep the team motivated, whether that’s a live digital sales board for targets or a leadership board for your customer support team. Gamifying work challenges also adds an element of team building, which is always welcome in any workplace culture.

Start a bring your pet to work day

Few things brighten up the office like a friendly dog wagging its tail or a sleepy cat lounging near a desk. A "Bring Your Pet to Work" day can create a relaxed atmosphere and encourage employee bonding over shared love for animals.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind so everything goes off without a hitch:

• Make sure the office is pet-friendly: Not all office spaces are suited for pets, so it’s important to check building policies and ensure a safe, clean space for animals
• Consider allergies and comfort levels:  Some employees may have allergies or feel uncomfortable around animals. You could have a designated pet-free zone for those who prefer to keep their distance
• Set basic ground rules: Requiring well-behaved, house-trained pets and having guidelines for feeding and cleanup ensures a positive experience for everyone

Incorporating fun is easier with digital signage

A fun and engaging workplace isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a game changer for productivity. Employees are happier and more engaged and you have an overall happier workplace. By putting in small, intentional efforts like building team traditions and recognizing employees, you can make a big difference in how people feel about their jobs and their coworkers.

But, if you incorporate digital signage into your list of strategies, you can potentially take fun in the workplace to another level.

With ScreenCloud’s industry leading digital signage solution, you can use screens to display everything from fun content to team progress in friendly competitions. You could even employ achievements to make them feel truly recognized. 

And because ScreenCloud has 80+ apps and integrations (and growing), you can also use your screens for everything from sharing important announcements to displaying important KPIs. 

If you’re looking to make fun a more natural part of your workplace, ScreenCloud’s digital signage solution is the perfect tool for you.

Sign up for a free trial and see why ScreenCloud is trusted by over 10,000 organizations worldwide.