"The Levity Effect"

The Economist reviews "The Levity Effect" by Adrian Gostickand Scott Christopher. A remarkable amount of evidence supports the argument that levity pays.

The authors explain: "Fun at work can provide a competitive advantage, help attract and retain employees, and provide the spark to jumpstart creativity." A fun workplace improves communication and morale, raises the level of employee trust, lowers employee turnover and increases profit.

Fun firms use a wide range of humor strategies. Intuit has a "fun committee" that organizes events such as potluck breakfasts and jeopardy games. AstraZeneca has a "fun department" that brings "funsters" to the firm to sing, distribute toys and tell jokes.

Another firm, which lists "fun" among its core values, hands-out "Walk the Talk" awards, a set of wind-up chattering teeth presented by the chief executive, accompanied by a kazoo band. KPMG, an accounting firm, holds online contests for staff (with great prizes), and gives away barbecue packs.

The best bet may be to hire people with a sense of humor. That was the philosophy of Herb Kelleher, the legendary boss of Southwest Airlines, an airline that is actually a pleasure to fly. One of his staff delivers one of the better and curiously timely lines in the book, "We're sorry for the delay, but our automated bag smasher is broken and we are having to break your bags by hand."