March, madness, and office habits

Sports fans anxiously await the NCAA Basketball Tournament each year, joining pools within their offices and organizations, making bracket selections and, of course, keeping track of all the games. With the month of March in the books and this year’s NCAA Basketball madness wrapping up this coming weekend, let’s take a look at some interesting statistics combining the world of work with bracketology (provided by CareerBuilder):

• 13% of workers surveyed say they spend 31 minutes to an hour checking March Madness scores and other related info while at work; 29% percent spend 15 to 30 minutes and 43 percent spend less than 15 minutes.
• 28 % of male workers have participated in March Madness pools in the office; 14 % of female workers have participated (13% of males confess to watching the games during the workday, while only 4% of females tune in while on the clock.
• 27% of workers in the Midwest say they participated in a March Madness pool at work (21% in the Northeast, 19% in the West and 18% in the South.)

Industries that bet
33% of financial services workers have entered March Madness pools at the office;

• 32% of Information Technology employees bet
• 32% of Professional and Business Services employees participate
• 31% of those in the Sales place a bet or two
• 22% of Manufacturing professionals enter pools
• 21% of Leisure and Hospitality employees participate
• 12% of Healthcare employees participate