Gaming has become increasingly popular, particularly since the start of the pandemic. This progressive albeit unique approach to connecting remote employees with their coworkers by Microsoft Teams could bridge the company culture gap that so many managers have been concerned about since the hybrid work model became so common. Sure, there are only four games, but Microsoft Teams gets updates so frequently, we wouldn’t be surprised if more games showed up along the way. Which games will be available in Microsoft Teams? They’ve definitely got classics that you’ll recognize and hopefully love, including Solitaire and Minesweeper, as well as an IceBreaker game and Wordament, a word challenge game that’s sure to stretch your team’s imagination. Given Microsoft’s success in the gaming industry with the Xbox, it’s safe to say the company is well equipped to provide a comprehensive gaming experience through the Teams platform. But do employees really need to be having fun at work? In fact, according to the Association for Psychological Science, play at work can lead to “less fatigue, boredom, stress, and burnout in individual workers,” which alone is a good enough reason to make an effort when it comes to having a little fun. Sure, playing a few rounds of Solitaire in between meetings isn’t going to entirely revamp your productivity numbers, but it could create a better sense of community within your team, and that’s always good for business.
