Finding Fun in Work: The effect of workplace fun on taking charge and job engagement

Abstract

The aim of this study is to advance awareness of fun in workplace. Fun plays a pivotal role in organizations workplace- as in daily life and can be a powerful form of friendship, leading to extra role behavior and cognition, emotion and physical engagement. With a sample of 195 white-collar employees, we tested the relationship between workplace fun (fun activities, manager support and coworker socializing) and taking charge. Additionally, we investigated whether taking charge mediated the effects of workplace fun on job engagement. Moreover, the study contributes the understanding the role of fun activities, coworker socialization and manager support for fun to provide change oriented voluntarily behaviors (i.e. taking charge) and job engagement. By illuminating positive findings in workplace fun research, we hope to encourage more research that examines the beneficial aspects of fun for employees and teams in organizations. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.