The ROI of Joy: How Fun at Work Is Becoming a Serious Business Strategy

Somewhere along the way, “fun” got a bad reputation in the workplace. It became something you squeezed in on Fridays or reserved for the company picnic. But the truth is, fun is serious business. In 2025, companies that intentionally build joy and connection into their culture are outperforming those that don’t, and the data backs it up.

The Business Case for Enjoyment

Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2024 report revealed that disengaged employees cost U.S. businesses nearly $1.9 trillion each year in lost productivity, turnover, and burnout. At the same time, BetterUp’s 2025 analysis found that employees who describe their workplace as “fun” are 42% more likely to stay with their company for three or more years.

It’s not just about having a ping-pong table or themed Slack channel. The most successful organizations are redefining fun as a form of psychological safety and shared energy. When people laugh together, celebrate small wins, and genuinely enjoy one another, they’re more creative, more resilient, and more willing to collaborate.

A 2025 Harvard Business Review article went so far as to quantify it: teams that regularly laugh and play together innovate 30% faster than those that don’t. Joy, it turns out, is measurable and profitable.

Why Fun Matters More Than Ever

Post-pandemic work has become transactional for many teams. Between hybrid meetings, digital tools, and constant task switching, employees are efficient but emotionally exhausted. Leaders often respond with more policies or surveys, but the root issue is simpler: people miss feeling good about being together.

Fun is the emotional glue that holds culture together. It helps teams remember why they like each other and why their work matters. When employees enjoy spending time with their coworkers, trust grows. Communication improves. Conflict decreases. The atmosphere changes from “I have to” to “I get to.”

Joy as a Strategy, Not a Side Project

The smartest companies are no longer treating fun as an afterthought. They’re designing for it. That means carving out time and space for experiences that build genuine connection, not forced icebreakers, but real moments of shared enjoyment.

Research from McKinsey (2024) shows that employees who feel a strong sense of belonging are 56% more likely to perform at a higher level and 50% less likely to leave within a year. Fun, when done right, is one of the fastest ways to create belonging.

At Wobali, we see this every week. When teams step outside the office to do something new together—axe throwing, volunteering, hiking the foothills, or exploring a local brewery, they drop the work masks. Conversations flow. Laughter breaks tension. People reconnect in a way that spreadsheets and team meetings can’t replicate.

The Wobali Way

At Wobali, we believe joy isn’t separate from work, it’s what helps teams thrive for the long haul. We work with local venues, guides, and creators across the Treasure Valley to design experiences that help teams recharge, reconnect, and rediscover their spark.

Whether it’s a competitive cooking night, an outdoor adventure, or a collaborative service project, every curated Wobali event is built to strengthen the relationships that keep people showing up, not just physically, but emotionally.

When employees are happy to be together, business gets better. That’s not theory anymore. It’s data.

If your team could use a little more joy (and a lot more connection), visit Wobali.com to explore upcoming experiences designed to turn fun into your next business advantage.