Monday, April 5, 2010

Will pingpong-as-stress buster be a new workplace trend?

Ping pong at workImage by gregoirevdb via Flickr
According to an article by Joana Sullivan, which appeared recently in the Baltimore Business Journal, stressed out accountants are turning to pingpong and fruit parties during the busy tax season to help alleviate work stress -- and the weight gain it sometimes causes.

Tom Hood of the Maryland Association of CPAs says it's a phenomena driven by Generation X's quest for work-life balance. Despite the economy, the demand for accountants has not waned. Employers are hoping by incorporating a little midday pingpong or a little midweek fruit party will aid in retention. 

What do you think?

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3 comments:

Blast from the Past said...

We have a ping pong table on the second floor of our office. Every now and then a few of us will strike up a game or two during lunch or on a Friday afternoon.

I work for a University and I guess we're not too stressed out... it's all for fun, not as a big stress relief valve.

I'm sure that it works for others, but at least where I work, it's not really needed. I do think it sounds better than some of the other more destructive actions some may take to vent their frustration!

I do try to play racquetball 2 or 3 times a week, and maybe that helps me blow off steam! :)

junkdrawer67 said...

Man, I hope so. I love ping pong!

And play of any kind is always a great way to reduce stress. If I ran a business I'd want a game room to be part of the office setting. With video games, board games, ping pong and pool tables, fooseball, all that stuff. Maybe even a gym but not just for exercise, for impromptu games of dodge ball and floor hockey.

Andi said...

Our office put in foozball table a couple of months ago. I think the reasons were 2-fold: stress relief and team building/collaboration.

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