''March Madness'' on the Minds of Mass. Employees

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new survey released today by IT staffing specialist Atlantic Associates shows that people are interested enough in the upcoming NCAA men’s basketball tournament that they’ll take some time out of their work day to follow its progress.

“Still, it’s important that employees work in environments they enjoy. Distractions such as March Madness can take away from productivity, but, if employers provide some latitude on certain occasions such as this, they’ll generally maintain better relationships with their employees.”

The survey, which asked approximately 300 employees at more than 40 companies in Massachusetts for their thoughts and opinions on issues facing them in today’s workforce, shows that 33 percent of the respondents will spend some work hours researching, reading about, watching or following online this year’s “March Madness” event.

Though that might not always be music to the ears of bosses, AAI principal and co-founder Jack Harrington says what might be lacking in productivity might be made up for in corporate morale.

“Employers are always challenged to get the most productivity they can from their employees,” said Harrington. “Still, it’s important that employees work in environments they enjoy. Distractions such as March Madness can take away from productivity, but, if employers provide some latitude on certain occasions such as this, they’ll generally maintain better relationships with their employees.”

Twenty percent of those surveyed said that the time they’ll actually spend following the tournament is less than an hour a week, or approximately the same amount an employee might spend on other non-work related things such as grabbing a cup of coffee or socializing with colleagues. Seven percent of respondents said they’ll spend 1-2 hours per week, while an additional six percent said they’ll spend 3 or more hours tracking their favorite hoops team.

The fact that employees spend portions of the work day following the tournament shouldn’t come as a surprise. A separate question asked how many companies of those responding would organize an employee pool for March Madness, with 22 percent answering in the affirmative.

Economic Woes Concern Employees

Employee confidence in the Massachusetts economy is waning, according to the survey. Fifty percent of respondents said they are less confident in the Massachusetts economy today than they were a year ago, with 15 percent saying they’re significantly less confident. Thirty-two percent remain neutral on the current economy while only 18 percent are more confident today than 12 months earlier.

The outlook for the national economy was more bleak. Eighty-four percent of those surveyed said they’re less confident in the national economy today than a year ago, including 31 percent who are significantly less confident. Just 12 percent of the respondents have an increased confidence in the economy.

These concerns don’t seem to mirror the thoughts about each person’s individual employer. Nearly 50 percent said they’re more confident in the future of their current employer today than they were a year ago, while only 19 percent said their confidence has lessened.

Still, employees feel that this is not a good time to be out of work or looking for a new job. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed said it would be more difficult today to find a job than it was a year ago, while 34 percent said it will be equally as challenging.

“The current economic crunch is not just a concern of corporate boardrooms,“ said Harrington. “Employees are feeling the crunch and confidence is lowering as no upturn is seen for this economy.”

Millennial Generation a Challenge to Employees and Employers Alike

A recent AAI survey asked top IT executives which generation is the most difficult to manage, with the Millennial generation (ages 18-31) rating highest, followed by Generation X (ages 32-42) and Baby Boomers (ages 43-61).

When employees were asked a similar question in this survey, Millennials still did not score well.

The question asked which generation do you enjoy working with the most? Generation X scored the highest, garnering 41 percent of the vote, followed by Boomers with 23 percent. Millennials, though, were a distant third with only 14 percent of the overall vote (20 percent of the respondent said they were “not sure” when asked the question).

“There’s been some negative commentary written and said about the new generation of employees, and the results of both this and our most recent survey seem to validate it,” said Harrington. “Some of the issues with Millennials could be maturity and as these employees evolve in business, so too may their attitudes. We still see this generation as a well-educated sector of the workforce that is critical to business success.”

Satisfaction, But Not Salaries, On the Rise

Employee job satisfaction is high, according to the survey, as 49 percent of those surveyed said they are currently more satisfied in their job than they were a year ago. An additional 30 percent said there is no change, while only 21 percent are less satisfied now than 12 months earlier.

That satisfaction doesn’t seem to be coming as the result of better pay. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they are hoping for a higher salary in 2008, while the biggest challenge listed that employees are currently facing in their job is that their salary is too low.

About the Survey

The AAI Survey of Massachusetts IT Employees asked nearly 300 employees from more than 40 companies in Massachusetts about workplace trends and issues. Respondents represented Massachusetts’ top employment industries including healthcare, financial services, higher education and government.

“This survey provides a candid look at how employees feel about key issues they are faced with each day in the workforce,” said Harrington.

About Atlantic Associates Inc.

Founded in 1998, AAI is New England’s premier provider of intelligent staffing solutions in information technology. The company places high-quality employees with the region’s top companies in sectors that include healthcare and hospitals, financial services, biotech, higher education, transportation, and government agencies. A core foundation of AAI’s philosophy is giving back to the communities it serves. The company is involved in major local charities including the Home For Little Wanderers, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Boys & Girls Club of Boston and the Pan Mass Challenge.