April 2007

Gloomy weather affects productivity

April showers may eventually bring May flowers, but what does it mean for the workplace? According to a CareerBuilder.com survey of more than 6,000 workers, 10 percent say they tend to be less productive on gloomy and rainy days, with 21 percent stating that weather negatively impacts their demeanor.

In addition to productivity, weather can impact employee moods and how they interact with their co-workers. Thirty-two percent of workers say they tend to have a happier disposition when it’s sunny or warm outside, while 12 percent tend to be sadder or angrier on gloomy days. Comparing regions, 16 percent of workers in the northeast say they tend to be sadder or angrier on dreary days, compared to an average of 11 percent for the other regions.

Inclement weather can also result in higher absences. Twenty-one percent have called in sick because of not wanting to travel to work in bad weather. Thirty-two percent of people in the northeast called in sick due to bad weather compared to 21 percent in the south, 20 percent in the Midwest, and 13 percent in the west.

Comparing genders, women were more likely to report feeling less motivated when the weather is gloomy and more likely to call in sick due to bad weather conditions.

To improve employee morale during the rainy season, Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder.com, suggested ordering a hot lunch for your staff so they don’t have to venture in stormy weather; make people laugh by playing DVDs of popular sitcoms that relate to your industry, such as “The Office” or “Scrubs” in the employee lunch room; and take some time to play a fun and engaging team-building activity with your staff.

Source: CareerBuilder.com, www.careerbuilder.com

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