NCAA provides workplace distraction

It’s NCAA tournament time and for many that means a virtual time out at work.

With first round play starting today around the country, many employees will make an attempt to watch the games via their computers, tablets and phones while “working” at their jobs.

In 2012, viewers watched 10.3 million hours of streaming video of the games. An outplacement firm called Challenger, Gray & Christmas estimated 2.5 million workers will spend around an 90 minutes PER DAY watching the tournament, costing companies $175 million in lost productivity.

In the early days of streaming video, the annual tournament caused a huge drain in the anemic networks that were in place. Today the networks are more robust and most fans are likely streaming them to their own cellphones and tablets. Phones are easier to hide and are not detected on the corporate-owned networks. Regardless, some IT departments go as far as blocking CBS sites carrying the games.

The distraction is short-lived, with most of the work time games being clustered today and tomorrow.

We have added some NCAA resources to help you better understand what you are watching in your cubicle. Access the special web section provide by the Associated Press here.