Brackets take a bite out of business

Ladies and gentlemen … start your brackets.

Around 86% of employees will spend at least some work time keeping track of March Madness, according to an MSN poll in the L.A. Times.

Hardcore fans will set aside their work for an average of 90 minutes per day to watch games or catch up on scores online.

All of that costs employers big money!

The employment consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas puts a $175 million price tag on it for lost productivity, and that’s just for the first two days of the tournament.

It’s never been easier to get a score or even watch an entire game live on your computer or phone while you work. Some companies have tried to block sports sites on company computers, but that won’t stop employees from using their own devices to catch up on the action.