Why a bit of April Fool’s day madness is good for the office spirits

Five pranks that’ll reduce stress this April 1st

Flying penguins, Crème Egg facials, spaghetti trees and discounted flights to Mars – just some of the best April Fool’s jokes that have had many Brits over the years. With April 1st around the corner, many people will be carefully thinking about ways they can pull the legs of their friends and colleagues, and now they have the support of industry experts.

Encouraging April Fool’s pranks is good for office morale. Playing pranks on colleagues helps reduce stress, boosts morale, encourages creativity and improves team dynamics – and a successful prank can even build stronger relationships amongst staff too.

Executive jobs site TheLadders.co.uk asked its users for some of their most popular office pranks with interesting results including:
* The fake email – sending your colleague a fake email from HR, demanding that they go to the HR floor to discuss their email habits.
*Keyboard quizzer - unplugging a keyboard can cause hours of fun.
*The Desk Move – moving the contents and desk of a colleague without telling them.
*The Fake Phone Call – pretend to be the new client behaving bizarrely.
*Dress code disaster - telling your colleague it’s Hawaiian shirt day on Friday, when its a normal shirt and tie day.

Derek Pilcher of TheLadders.co.uk says: “With the economic crisis causing high levels of stress and pressure for many companies April Fool’s Day will be a welcome distraction. Managers should see it as a fun, lighthearted day when colleagues can share a joke and let strict protocol take a back seat.”