Some Employees Bet Hundreds on March Madness

Chicago Managing Partner Steve Miller is quoted in the SHRM article “Some Employees Bet Hundreds on March Madness.” This article discusses the risks and concerns of gambling in the workplace during March Madness.

March Madness office pools for the National Collegiate Athletic Association College Basketball tournaments can be a great way to build camaraderie, but HR may have to intervene when employees bet on each game for large sums, according to Steve.

March Madness pools can be responsible for lower productivity, offending an employee’s religious beliefs and could cause employees to feel financially wronged.

If workers are not spending just $5 to $10 on a typical pool for the entire tournament but are putting larger amounts on the line for each game, fights can break out when one employee tries to collect from another worker and he or she doesn't pay, Steve cautioned. Although he described those instances as rare, he said they are common enough that some employers have instituted no-gambling policies in the workplace.