Is Playing On the Job OK?

Our office environment is...unique. We have pool and ping-pong tables in our "Monster Den." Yes, we do get work done, but we like to sometimes pretend we are in preschool. Thad hides random things like debris-filled cake containers in my work space. I've learned to keep my coffee cup far removed from my keyboard, in constant anticipation of flying candy coming my way. I even got hit with a wayward hackey sack once.

I always thought this behavior was just a Monster thing, but I have a few friends who work at other companies that share this playful work experience. I was once on the phone with a friend working at a consulting firm when I heard a huge thump. He had to go, because someone just one-upped him at a paper-clip fight.

As long as nobody gets hurt, everyone involved is voluntarily playing and, of course, everyone gets their work done (and the company policy condones it), fooling around at work can be a good momentary destress or even keep one awake through the dreaded 3 P.M. slump. But when the games get in the way of your job, pranks can turn awry.

In July, for instance, seeming playfulness caused the country's leading nuclear weapons lab to shut down. Lab director Pete Nanos didn't think it was so funny when classified computer disks disappeared and a student got hit in the eye with a laser beam -- all within a week. "If you think the rules are silly, if you think compliance is a joke, please resign now and save me the trouble," said Nanos. (Check out other intriguing national-security-related daily information on DefenseTech.org.)

So what's the moral? Light, safe, invited and non-job-related fun is probably OK, granted that it abides by your company policy. But, say, hiding important company-related documents or doing something that could cause physical, moral or emotional harm is not. You dig?

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