Edith Hejberg
From endless meetings to unrealistic expectations, modern work culture often feels needlessly punishing.
After years of hustle culture followed by pandemic burnout, work feels more like a chore than a choice. But Bree Groff, author and organisational consultant, believes it doesn’t have to be this way.
Her pitch? Forget productivity, focus on fun. If we made joy a workplace priority, could we revive engagement and well-being?
The Great Reassessment of Work
Gen Z is drawing clear boundaries, AI threatens job security, and hybrid models are shaking up old routines.
In this climate of uncertainty and change, Groff suggests that making work enjoyable might be the missing piece, not just to retain staff, but to reimagine the role work plays in our lives.
A Personal Turning Point
Groff’s views were reshaped when she became a full-time carer for her terminally ill parents in 2022.
That period forced her to reflect deeply on time, purpose, and how we spend our days. “I’m going to run out of Mondays,” she realized, prompting her to advocate for work as a source of joy, not just survival.
What Went Wrong With Work
From endless meetings to unrealistic expectations, modern work culture often feels needlessly punishing.
Groff argues that the problem isn’t work itself, but the toxic norms around it, especially the belief that suffering proves value. “We get paid to create value, not to suffer,” she reminds us.
Professionalism Isn’t Personal
One major barrier to workplace joy? The rigid idea of “professionalism.” Groff challenges this norm, saying it pressures people to perform rather than show up as their full selves.
Whether it’s dress codes or corporate jargon, she urges us to rehumanise how we work and even how we dress for it.
Hustle Culture’s Empty Promises
Perks like free lunches and ping-pong tables once disguised the dark truth: many companies were just buying more of your time.
Groff sees these as bribes, not benefits. Fun at work shouldn’t mean being trapped by your employer, it should mean feeling free to enjoy your job and your life.
Redefining Motivation
Not everyone wants to “change the world.” Groff says leaders often fail to realise that most employees simply want a good day and a bit of balance.
The reality is that people are more likely to thrive when they’re well-rested, supported and having a little fun along the way.
The Power of Joy in Engagement
Data backs her up: fun fuels engagement. In one Gallup study, 81% of highly engaged German workers said they’d had fun at work that week, compared to just 10% of disengaged employees.
Fun isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a marker of whether a workplace is thriving or merely surviving.
Five Simple Ways to Have More Fun at Work
Groff offers practical tips:
- personalise your workspace
- check in with your teammates
- share “user manuals” about how you like to work
- thin-slice” joy into small moments.
And if all else fails? It might be time to move on. Life’s too short for a joyless job.
A Human Edge in the Age of AI
Fun might be the one thing AI can’t replicate. While machines handle repetitive tasks, Groff sees an opportunity for humans to focus on what makes work meaningful: relationships, laughter, and purpose.
“Maybe that’s plenty,” she says. After all, if nothing else, today was fun.
