You can hardly turn on the news these days without hearing about the tight labor market and the importance of keeping employees happy. So what exactly are people looking for when it comes to job satisfaction? According to Boston Consulting Group, the top two things that make people happy at work are:
- Appreciation for their work
- Good relationships with colleagues
You can easily meet both of those desires with a corporate outing that brings together employees and their families for fun outside of the office. Team building activities, games, and good food encourage people to get to know each other and show how much you value their dedication.
Why Summer is Perfect for Corporate Appreciation Events
The longer days, warm temperatures, and relaxed feel of summer make it the perfect time for family reunions, neighborhood barbecues, and church homecomings. Why not add an employee appreciation event to that list? Here are a few of our favorite reasons for making summer the time for a corporate family event:
The Weather. Whether you’re planning a picnic or outdoor games, you have a much better chance of having good weather to eat and play outside during the spring and summer months. At Legacy Stables and Events, we offer stunning outdoor venues with beautiful landscaping and twinkling lights. An advantage you have when you choose to host your event with us is the option to move things indoors if rain is in the forecast, thanks to our spacious venues at Grace Barn and Forsyth Barn.
Breaking the Monotony. Many businesses have a tradition of hosting company parties and giving bonuses at Christmas, but why wait until the holiday season? It’s easy to fall into summer doldrums, dragging into the office reluctantly when the bright sun outdoors beckons you to the pool. Help put a little excitement back into your business’s culture with a mid-year celebration.
Legacy’s Tips for a Successful Employee Appreciation Event
Planning and hosting a summertime event is different in some ways than what you would plan for a holiday party. These corporate events more often include the entire family, rather than being stuffy cocktail parties. Luckily, we’ve got a lot of great ideas to help you host a corporate family event that people will be talking about for weeks and months to come.
- Hold a raffle or give away door prizes
- Invite a local band for entertainment
- Include team-building exercises such as an escape room or company trivia game
- Have outdoor games for all ages such as cornhole, ladder ball, and tug of war
- Set up arts and crafts stations for kids. Some ideas of things to make include friendship bracelets, postcards to send to friends and family, and sand art bottles.
- Have a photobooth or station for taking pictures with fun props. Invite people to share them on social media tagging your company.
- Hold bingo and casino games
- Create some fun “Minute to Win It” challenges people can do themselves or compete against others, such as stacking cups or pennies, or tossing ping pong balls into a cup.
Don’t forget the food!
Whether you’re outside for a picnic or holding your event indoors, food is usually the central part of any employee appreciation event. Sitting together to eat gives people a chance to talk and learn about each other’s lives outside of work, fostering a greater sense of camaraderie.
When it comes to menu-planning, think about the location of your event and who will be attending. For many summer employee appreciation events the entire family is invited, which means you’ll have kids of all ages. Consider a family-friendly menu with hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, macaroni and cheese, and ice cream. These options are crowd pleasers for all ages.
Let our staff at Legacy Stables and Events help you plan a great summertime corporate picnic. We invite you to come take a tour and see how our venue can meet your needs. We provide flexible spaces for large or small groups and plenty of support in organizing food and activities.
