A Wheel Spinner Might Be the Most Fair Thing in Your Office (No Joke)
Raise your hand if you’ve ever thought,
“Wait, why is it always the same three people doing everything around here?”
Yup, me too.
Even with the best managers and HR pros running things, "fairness" in the workplace sometimes amounts to “well, it felt right at the time.”
And that’s how you end up with resentment, burnout, and the legendary Eye Roll of Destiny from half your team.
Weird truth? Sometimes all you need is a simple, totally random wheel spinner.
I know—it sounds like a game from the break room. But trust me: for picking tasks, choosing opportunities, and giving everyone a fair shot, this little doodad is actually a secret weapon.
Here’s how it changes the game.
Assigning Tasks—No More “Why Me Every Time?!”
Let’s be honest: splitting up work is like walking a tightrope.
You try to be fair. But after three rounds of “uh, can you do the report again?”, no one’s fooled.
- Drop everyone’s names in a digital wheel spinner.
- Hit spin.
- Whoever it lands on, that’s the pick. No favoritism, no silent groans (okay, maybe one, but they know it wasn’t personal).
“Honestly? Morale went way up. People saw the selection was random, and complaints pretty much vanished.” – Maya, HR (who hates drama)
Bonus: Nobody blames you—and nobody can say Linda got the easy gig just because she brought cupcakes yesterday.
Picking Who Gets Perks or Training
Conference trip? Shiny new course? In-office massage Tuesday?
There are never enough spots for everyone.
Here’s what I started doing (after too many people assumed “favorites”):
- Add all qualifying names or slots to the picker.
- Spin, announce, move on.
- Everyone sees it’s on the level (and they know it’ll be their turn next time).
People trust you more. Less second-guessing.
Less “I should’ve spoken up louder” guilt too.
Leveling Out Meetings
We all have that one colleague who never shuts up, and three others who barely unmute.
I started picking discussion leaders, brainstorming “first voices,” or notetakers via the wheel.
- It spreads the chance around.
- Shy folks get a fair “in.”
- The not-always-volunteered (you know who you are!) get a turn without the awkwardness.
Not calling folks out. Just giving everyone a way in.
Quick Reality Check: Spinner vs “Let’s Just Decide”
| Situation | The Old Way | Wheel Spinner Version |
|---|---|---|
| Task assignment | Gut feel, boss picks | Completely random, all visible |
| Who gets to train/travel | Whoever asks loudest | Wheel spins everyone in fairly |
| Who speaks in meetings | Loudest voice wins | Spinner picks, everyone has shot |
No contest, honestly.
Wheel Spinner Wins from Real Workplaces
- We’ve used it for:
— Rotating dull chores (fridge cleanout, ugh)
— Assigning big new projects without drama
— Picking volunteer committees - One team even uses it at their end-of-year party for door prizes—everyone cheers because it “just feels more fair!”
Folks like systems they can see and trust.
A wheel’s about as clear as it gets.
Bottom Line—Fairness Feels Better with a Spin
You can read articles and pay consultants til the budget runs dry. But tackling fairness is sometimes as simple as letting a digital wheel randomizer make the call.
It’s easy, it’s transparent, and honestly, it tells your team you care about doing things right.
So try it—toss all the names in and give it a whirl.
If you hear fewer sighs and more “hey, my turn!” moments, you’ll know it worked.
PS: A little competition over who gets the best office chair is much more fun when the wheel decided, not you.