Fantasy football in the workplace: Punt or play?

Summer days are getting shorter; school is back in session and fantasy football season is back. Whether you’re aware of it or not, chances are some of your employees are playing fantasy football at work. A survey conducted by the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association reports that as of 2022, a staggering 62.5 million people in the US and Canada are playing fantasy sports.

What does that mean for your team or business? The most obvious risk is a drop in productivity. It’s estimated that businesses lose around $16 billion in productivity annually from employees watching games and analyzing stats–like the number of touchdowns Tua Tagovailoa will throw.

On the other hand, fantasy football can be a great way to build camaraderie among employees. Fantasy football gives employees the chance to bond with one another, create conversation amongst themselves and ultimately make work fun – a win-win for employees and leaders.

Should you allow fantasy football in the workplace?

It’s a difficult decision. Ask yourself: will fantasy football leagues be used as a way to build camaraderie amongst employees, or will they hurt employee productivity?

If you decide to allow fantasy sports (it’s not just football), it’s important that you clearly communicate your policy to your employees, preferably in writing so everyone is on the same page. Here are a few guidelines you may want to consider implementing:

• Set a time limit – fantasy football activities should be strictly prohibited on company time. Limit them to breaks, lunch hours, etc.
• Clearly state gambling laws – if employees have a monetary component to their fantasy football league, clearly describe what type of gambling is allowed and what type of gambling is legal in Hawai’i (social).Read more: March Madness office pool
• Set parameters – your written policy should clearly state that employees are prohibited from using company property to participate in any online gambling, including fantasy sports leagues.
• Communicate consequences – just as important as clearly defining rules for playing fantasy football at work, it’s also very important to clearly define and communicate the consequences for breaking office policy.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should first consult their attorney, accountant or adviser before acting upon any information in this article.