All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. What wrong with having fun … nothing, not even if you're at work!

The workplace at the end of the Century is anything but dull. Gone are the dramatics associated with corporate politics, white button-down shirts or blouses, and the staunch quiet, labor-intensive drudgery associated with the '80s. In today's labor shortage, if companies are going to nurture the worker and retain he or she in the business on a long-term basis, then companies should put the word "fun" in all its activities.

Although it is certainly not the norm across the board, research by human resource experts shows that an exciting and energizing atmosphere does much to further a company's initiatives. Some businesses, for example, go to extremes with rock-climbing walls, while others feature darts, pool tables, a "quiet room," and even soothing, indoor waterfalls that sound like you're in the rain forest.

Boundaries must be established, but the trick to promoting a fun workplace is letting employees decide what they want to have.