As Workplaces Ready for the Excitement of March Madness, One Office Pool is a Contest Open to All of America's Unemployed

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, as millions of Americans fill out NCAA men's basketball tournament brackets at their jobs, one office pool is different. It's the one for people currently without jobs. The RiseSmart Madness Challenge is open to anyone in America who is looking for work, and gives unemployed people across the country the chance to have fun and win big in one of the annual rites of office life.

Here's how it works:

WHAT: The RiseSmart Madness Challenge is open to anyone in America looking for work. Participants access their brackets online; and prizes include an iPad Air, Kindle Fire and Apple TV. Enter before tip-off on Thursday, March 20. 

WHY: The contest gives unemployed people a well-earned break from their job searches and a chance to win popular prizes. It also gives participants an opportunity to interact with one another and feel re-engaged in the workforce.

THE DATA: More than half of U.S. employees – 57 percent – participate in a March Madness office pool, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management. While at least one organization annually frets about the potential for lost productivity from office pools and the watching of games at work, the SHRM survey noted how 70 percent of employers recognize the positive aspects of the relationship building fostered by NCAA office pools.

REGISTRATION: Participants can sign up through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RiseSmart/app_1471899216355022.

QUOTABLE: "Searching for a job can be a full-time job," said Sanjay Sathe, president and CEO of RiseSmart, the contest's sponsor and organizer. "Participating in things like the RiseSmart Madness Challenge helps jobseekers re-energize and re-engage. We're excited to open the Challenge to everyone in America who is looking for work. Congratulations to top seeds Florida, Arizona, Wichita State and Virginia and the entire tournament field, and best of luck to everyone filling out a bracket. This year, everyone has a shot to come out on top."

About RiseSmart

Based in San Jose, Calif., RiseSmart is a leading provider of enterprise career management solutions. For more information, visit http://www.risesmart.com.

SOURCE RiseSmart