COMPANY CULTURE is one of the most important aspects of any organization,
especially when it comes to its employees. The atmosphere of the workplace can
positively or negatively affect a worker’s performance. If managers and
supervisors are approachable, make employees feel valuable and like they
belong, workers will be happier in the office. Disgruntled managers, harshness
and cold or demeaning attitudes toward employees will produce a negative vibe,
making workers not as eager to be in the office.
What is one good way
to build and maintain your company’s culture? Have company outings. Company,
department or team outings are important for a variety of reasons:
Comfortable
Sometimes people can
feel uptight in the office, especially while trying to uphold the
professionalism standard. Gathering outside of the office, especially in a fun,
casual setting, can help workers feel more comfortable and relaxed.
De-stress
Work produces stress,
this is a no-brainer. Juggling meetings, clients, hectic schedules and projects
on a daily basis can create a lot of tension. Company outings provide an outlet
to get away from all the busyness a typical work day can bring allowing
employees to unwind and relieve their stress.
Learning
Outings aren’t just
for fun and relaxation, but they give workers the opportunity to learn new
things about other employees. Although you may see a colleague at work every
day, often times, there’s a difference between an individual’s at-work self and outside-work self. The outing may be work related, but you
will be surprised at how much you can learn about someone when you put him or
her in a new setting.
Change
of scenery
You see the office
every day and sometimes that can become boring. A change of scenery every now
and then can be good. New environments can bring new attitudes. Perhaps a
worker was having a stressful week in the office, yet the company outing on
Friday at a local restaurant helped change his or her mood. Atmosphere (and
ambiance) makes a world of difference.
Build
unity
The main purpose of a
team outing is the team. How do we help strengthen our team? How can we make
this team better? Outings, especially ones with team-building activities, help
to unify a group, which can ultimately make it more cohesive and function better
in the company. Better functioning teams and departments make for a more
productive company overall.
Yet, many
organizations rarely schedule company outings, if at all. Some reasons for this
include: lack of time, lack of interest (on both employees’ and managers’
part), virtual offices and/or remote employees. During one of my internships,
one intern took the initiative to organize intern outings. She regularly
emailed all the interns inviting us to gather for different outings. Out of the
more than 50 interns working for the company, I was surprised by the few who
would show up for the outings. We always had a great time and I not only met
new people and made connections (as interns worked in various departments), but
I learned so much about my fellow interns as well.
Gathering with
coworkers outside of the office is very beneficial, but we all know no matter
how many of your colleagues you invite, someone is bound to not show up. Should
companies make these outings mandatory? Below are key advantages and disadvantages
of mandating your next company, department or team gathering:
Advantages
- Greater attendance results. If
an outing is required, more workers are likely to show up than if it’s
optional.
- Better way to ensure entire
team knows and networks with one another. Many people do not even sit
close to their teammates in an office because of space. Some workers
rarely see or physically interact with their colleagues except for a
company meeting.
- Team can build social skills
outside the office.
SOURCE: https://www.recruiter.com/i/should-company-outings-be-mandatory/
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