2010 office pool poll

January 29, 2010

SHRM Poll: Workplace Policies for Office Pools

Workplace Policies for Office Pools | ©SHRM 2010 2

Definitions

For the purpose of this survey:

Gambling refers to office pools (e.g., Football games, March Madness, Oscars, Super Bowl, etc.).

Fantasy sport refers to a game where participants act as owners to build a fantasy team online that competes against other fantasy owners)

Workplace Policies for Office Pools | ©SHRM 2010

Does your organization have a written or unwritten policy addressing gambling in the workplace?

No, we do not have a formal written or unwritten (understood) gambling policy

Yes, we have an unwritten (understood) gambling policy

Yes, we have a written gambling policy

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

79%

7%

14%

71%

10%

19%

67%

10%

23%

2010, n=271 2008, n=359 2006, n=430

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Note: For the purpose of the survey, gambling refers to office pools (football games, March Madness, Oscars, Super Bowl, etc.). “Not sure” responses were excluded from this analysis.


Does your organization’s gambling policy include the following?

Prohibition of off duty gambling (i.e., any form of gambling outside of work)

Definition of acceptable forms of gambling on company premises

Definition of unacceptable forms of gambling on company premises

Employment termination for failure to comply with policy*

Prohibition of gambling that includes monetary exchange

Disciplinary action (not including termination) for failure to comply with policy**

Prohibition of any form of gambling on company premises

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

3%

34%

24%

25%

55%

87%

2%

24%

12%

21%

41%

83%

7%

29%

63%

67%

70%

72%

83%

2010, n = 78 2008, n=103 2006, n=67

Note: N/A responses were excluded from the analysis. In 2006 and 2008, respondents were allowed to select from multiple response options. “*” denotes that this option was combined with “**” option in 2006 and 2008.


In the past 12 months, has your organization disciplined or terminated any employee for noncompliance of its gambling policy?

Yes, disciplined Yes, terminated No0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

4% 2%

94%

3% 0%

97%

2010, n=70 2008, n=77

Note: N/A responses were excluded from the analysis. This question was not available in the 2006 survey.


Does your organization prohibit employees from taking part in fantasy sports (a game where participants act as owners to build an online fantasy team that competes against other fantasy owners) while at work?

34%

66%

YesNo

6Note: n = 242. “Not sure” responses were excluded from the analysis. “*


For which of the following events do employees at your company organize an office pool?

Other*

Oscars

Golf tournament

World Series baseball

Workplace baby pool (e.g., poll for baby’s gender, height, weight, birth hour, etc.)

Lottery jackpot

NCAA college basketball tournament

Super Bowl

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

7%

2%

4%

21%

23%

31%

57%

65%

Note: n=150. Respondents were allowed to select multiple response. “*Other “ category includes NASCAR, NFL weekly pool, weekly Texas Hold 'Em tournaments, Biggest Loser TV show.


Generally speaking, would you say that office pools have a positive impact, negative impact or no impact on the following areas at your organization?

Teamwork

Work productivity

Employee morale

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

7%

37%

4%

51%

62%

41%

42%

1%

55%

Negative impact No impact Positive impact

Note: n = 267


Generally speaking, after a major televised event (e.g., Super Bowl, Oscars, Emmys, etc.) would you say the following increase, decrease or stay the same at your organization?

The number of employees that call in sick the next day

The number of employees that come in late the next day

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

0%

0%

92%

89%

8%

11%

Decrease Stay the same Increase

Note: n = 264


Among which population of your organization do you usually see an increase in the…

number of employees that come in late the day after a major televised event?

number of employees that call in sick the day after a major televised event?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

81%

85%

19%

15%

Male Female

Note: n = 27. Only respondents whose organization has seen an increase were included in the analysis.


Demographics: Organization Industry

Industry

Manufacturing—other 17%

Health care, social assistance (e.g., nursing homes, EAP providers) 11%

Retail/wholesale trade 8%

Other services (e.g., nonprofit, church/religious organizations) 7%

Financial services (e.g., banking) 7%

Services—professional, scientific, technical, legal, engineering 6%

Transportation, warehousing (e.g., distribution) 4%

Insurance 4%

Consulting 4%

Educational services/education 3%

Government/public administration—federal, state/local, tribal 3%

Construction, mining, oil and gas 3%

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Note: (n=272) Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.


Demographics: Organization Industry (continued)

Industry

High-tech 3%

Real estate, rental, leasing 3%

Services—accommodation, food and drinking places 3%

Association—professional/trade 3%

Telecommunications 3%

Publishing, broadcasting, other media 1%

Arts, entertainment, recreation 1%

Pharmaceutical 1%

Biotech 1%

Utilities 1%

Other 3%

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Note: (n=329) Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.


Demographics: Organization Sector

Government sector

Publicly owned for-profit organization

Nonprofit organization

Privately owned for-profit organization

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

6%

20%

22%

52%

13

(n= 271)


Demographics: Organization Staff Size

Small (1-99 employees) Medium (100-499 employees) Large (500 or more employees)0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

36%

41%

23%

14

(n = 235)


Demographics: Organization Region

Northeast

West

South

Midwest

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

18%

18%

27%

37%

15

(n = 260)


Demographics: Organization Operations Location

Primarily nationally based

Primarily multinationally based

Primarily state based Primarily locally based0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50% 48%

18% 17% 17%

16

(n = 271)


SHRM Poll: Workplace Policies for Office Pools

• Response rate = 13%• Sample comprised of 280 randomly selected HR

professionals from SHRM’s membership• Margin of error is +/- 5 • Survey fielded January 13 – January 22, 2010

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Methodology

2010 office pool poll

Business