March Madness: Are You Getting a Lot of Work Done?

An article in the New York Times yesterday says that March is the No. 1 month for distracted workers. Hmm. Really? Though we think holiday Internet shopping in December comes in at a pretty close second, nothing says "blow off work" better than March Madness:

Lost productivity from March Madness could cost companies more than $1.2 billion, the consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas estimates. But according to a survey, most companies do not view the temporary obsession as a problem. Some even see it as a reward for a job well done — for most of the year, anyway.

Sure, some people follow the games for the excitement, college team loyalty or the underdog surprises -- but really, isn't it about the office pool and winning watercooler bragging rights? And CBS Sportsline is a cube dweller's dream, but a productivity nightmare. The free video allows members to watch the NCAA games live from your computer. Now if only the bosses could roll a keg or two into the staff breakroom...

So how many hours did you spend on your brackets yesterday?

Photo by fictures via flickr.