NCAA Tournament 2012 means distracted workers. What's an employer to do?

To try to rein in the office hoops mania, some companies are installing software that blocks sites such as ESPN.go.com or CBSsports.com. However, that is effective only for a company's own computer system, not for employee-owned smart phones.

Instead, some employers warn their workers against getting distracted by the tournament during the day. That’s the case at Re/Max in Plano, Texas, where Keith Dobbs, owner of the busy franchise, says employees can watch games on lunch break but not during work hours. “Not on my nickel,” says Mr. Dobbs, who has graduates of the University of Texas and Baylor (both in the tournament) working in his office. “That’s what they make DVRs for.”

Some productivity experts, however, question whether that’s the right approach. “You have to treat employees like adults,” says Andre Angel, chairman of WorkMeter Inc. in Dallas, which makes software to improve productivity. “If you oppress them, they will just look for another job.”

Mr. Angel takes the optimistic approach that employees will want to make up for work time spent on things other than work. “Honestly, they will come up to the challenge,” he says.

Some managers say the games actually help corporate departments to bond. “You talk to people you might not talk to,” says Jeff Lenard, who works for a large association in Washington and who went to grad school at Syracuse University. “You learn where people went to college, and you get to talk up your team.” 

The widespread involvement of Americans in office pools is one big reason March Madness is so pervasive, he says. “Last year, I went to the Old Dominion against Butler game,” Mr. Lenard recalls. “The game was won at the buzzer [by Butler], but everyone else was watching another game at the same time on some kind of hand-held device so they could see how their picks were doing.”

Some employees acknowledge being “creative” when it comes to viewing games during March Madness.

For example, Dallas lawyer Michael Kim is a big University of Texas fan. For those pesky games that take place during the day, the litigator prefers to take a late lunch so he can watch the second half of a game during his normal lunch time. “By then I know if it’s a close game,” he says.

And if the game stretches past lunch hour or goes into overtime? He has a plan.  

“I might forget where my keys are,” he jokes.

Kim sees one major downside to getting deeply involved in the games while at work. “If your team loses, then it creates a somber mood for the rest of the afternoon,” he says with a laugh. “That will kill your productivity.”

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