The Office Playground Blog

Extreme Workplaces

Eating lunch outside at the Googleplex

The Travel Channel's segment on Extreme Workplaces is mind boggling and dream inspiring. Showcased in the show and the article, "Thinking Outside the Cubicle" written by Erica Walsh, are seven businesses that go all out in providing uniquely designed workplaces and unbelievably fun perks for their employees.

Ping Pong at the Threadless Warehouse

While not all employers can provide such wonderland-type settings and expensive perks, fun doesn't have to be high priced. Small gifts given out at a meeting can make a big impression. Freebees are appreciated and the good will associated with them can help stimulate creativity that just might give birth to the next great idea for your business.

Office Playground's Meeting in a Box is a modestly priced box containing 17 fidget toys. These little toys add an element of fun to any meeting or workday. The briefcase shaped box makes it easy to carry and it will definitely be the center of attention when placed on the conference table and opened to reveal the variety of toys inside. Let the brainstorming begin!

Images of the Googleplex courtesy of Erik Hersman. Image of the Threadless Warehouse courtesy of Joe M500.

Fun Is Profitable! -- Just Ask Google

Google sets the standard for a happy work environment.

In 2007 and 2008, Fortune Magazine named Google the Number 1 employer in their annual 100 Best Companies to Work for. With a market cap of 120.97B and 12,000 employees in offices throughout the world, Google’s casual dress code and “work hard, play hard” philosophy is a prime example of when people are happy they perform better. It is a company that goes out of its way to ensure staff happiness and contentment. Their staff turnover is low, while job satisfaction is high. Google's playful approach to serious business is echoed in the many variations of their logo they create to honor interesting people and events around the world.

Great ideas start with just one person sowing a seed. You can make your workspace a more enjoyable place by adding colorful items, tactile toys and whimsical office supplies. Create variety by rotating items from your drawer to the desktop. You’ll be happier and your co-workers will be inspired. Watch your idea grow and spread throughout your company.

Office Playground is a provider of a wide variety of affordable products that add fun to any office. We’ve shipped toys and games to Google offices and we can ship them to you. Staff happiness encourages success.

Best Practices in Using Stress Balls for Meetings

Toys, such as stress balls, can make your meeting or training event more successful. Please refer to our blog posting, Better Meetings with Toys to learn why you should offer toys to your meeting/training attendees. There are certain variables to consider when you shop for your next batch of meeting stress balls. (See all of our Stress Balls here.)

Distribution – We recommend laying out a variety of stress balls together, maybe in a large bowl, and let the attendees take their pick. The folks who show up early get the best pick and the ones who are late get whatever is left (they won’t be late again).

Top Picks – Here are some of our best Meeting Stress Balls:

Koosh Ball

Mood Dude Happy

Cyber Gel Ball

Happy Face Ball

Gripp Stress Ball

Customize a Stress Ball – We can print your message/logo/tagline or whatever you wish on a stress ball. Print the main takeaway message of your training session so attendees are reminded throughout the day as they see it on their desks. Click here to see the range of stress balls we can custom imprint.

Make the best choice for your meeting:
Noise – Some stress balls make noise and that is too distracting for a business meeting or training event. Avoid balls with water or any liquid inside since they’ll make a squishing sound when squeezed. Also, some stress balls actually talk back when squeezed. While that is funny the first couple of times, it doesn’t work when the meeting really gets underway.

Filling – Any stress ball with liquid or gel inside has the potential to break. Our stress balls are strong, we don’t sell weak ones, but sometimes they do fail. You don’t want the contents of a Fishy Squishy all over the table during a meeting.

During these stressful business times, giving out the right stress balls at your next business meeting, training session or event will yield huge returns.

Bill Ross
Founder & CEO
Office Playground, Inc.

Have a Stress Free Administrative Professionals' Day

Administrative Professionals' Week is April 19-25 with Administrative Professionals' Day on Wednesday, April 22. Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals has honored office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals' Week. It has become one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and major holidays. According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, there are more than 4 million secretaries and administrative assistants and 8.9 million people working in various administrative support roles in the United States. In the United States, it’s customary to give administrative professionals a gift of appreciation on this day such as flowers, lunch or a handwritten card. This year, consider a gift that keeps on giving, a fun item that also aids in stress relief at work. Studies done by the CDC’s National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, have found the percentage of Americans who are "extremely stressed at work" range between 29% and 40%. Stress in the workplace often leads to higher absenteeism, health problems, lower productivity and burnout. Playful or humorous items on a person’s desk or in the workplace add a little fun to a busy day which can reduce stress and make a cubicle or office a more relaxing environment. Stress relief products and office toys are available in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. Office Playground offers something for every personality, including desktop plants for nurturers, zen gardens for those looking for inner peace, and fun office supplies for the organized workaholic. We hope you have a stress free Administrative Professionals' Day!

Better Meetings with Toys

You can improve your business meetings by using office toys. Here are some ways to get more out of your next training session, company-wide meeting or weekly team reviews.

Attention span – Keep their hands busy and their minds open. Hand out office toys to keep attendees focused. Attention spans will increase if attendees have something to manipulate in their fingers. If meeting goers are busy fidgeting with a Tangle or Magic Loop, they will listen and retain more content.

Attendance – If employees know that toys are given out at a meeting, they will show up and will stay to the end. Give toys to employees who arrive on time. If they arrive late, they don't get a toy. Late arrivers will be very disappointed. On the flip side, give an office toy to folks who stay for the entire meeting. It'll be a fun reward for staying.

Participation – Encourage people to give feedback and get involved in the meeting by giving office toys to audience members who ask good questions or who are the first to answer. The entire room will be on the edge of their seats, absorbing everything you say.

Bowl of Office Toys – Place a bunch of small inexpensive toys in a bowl or basket in the middle of the table or near the door. Choose office toys that are all the same style or a variety. Be sure to pick "quiet" office toys so they aren't a distraction during the meeting. Foam Stress Balls, Thredz-Flex Ziggy Variegated, Bendeez Confetti are all good examples. Folks should return the office toys to the basket after the meeting to be used next time.

Handouts/Rewards – Keep a variety of office toys on hand to give out during the meeting. Popular office toys such as Newton's Cradle 5" Silver or Mini Deluxe Zen Garden are great rewards for reaching certain business objectives, making a quota or staying within budget. Fun office toys, such as Happy Face Stress Ball or Laughing Stress Ball are great handouts for folks who participate and for positive attitudes. Extremely affordable items such as Stretchy Body Bits and Funny Monster Clips are ideal for folks who arrive on time or answer/ask questions.

Props and Games - Use office toys as props to support your lessons. Themed office toys help reinforce key ideas and points. Trainees will be reminded of important messages long after the meeting has ended. For example, use an Affirmation Ball to reinforce positive customer service behavior or a Beach in a Box to remind your sales staff of the trip for folks who reach annual goals. Create teambuilding exercises by playing games with office toys. Participants are sure to bond over a Boss Toss competition, Downtown Shootout or Basket Case Hoop Game.

Let's face it, business meetings aren't on the top of everyone's list of favorite things to do. But, they are a necessary part of the operation. Take it from us, business people love to play with office toys and will respond favorably if you incorporate them into your next meeting. So, go ahead and give it a try!