Company offsites are a great way to bond as a team and get some creative brainstorming done, so long as they’re planned well.
The dynamics of the modern workplace are evolving all the time, with distributed teams, time schedules, and projects. These new ways of working can make teams feel disconnected from other areas of the business. And with 63% of workers working from home at least some of the time, it’s more important than ever for teams to stay connected, and that’s where company offsites are ideal.
In this guide, we’ll cover the benefits of company offsites and what you need to keep in mind as you plan your next retreat.
Company offsites are events arranged by an organization to bring their teams together away from the regular work environment. These range from a day spent at a venue nearby to multi-day retreats in a different city or country, known as a company retreat. The purpose of team offsites is to pull your team out of their ‘comfort zone’ by changing surroundings to provide fresh perspectives. Commonly, offsites are split into two halves — the first is dedicated to business goals, brainstorming, and future-planning, the second half is all about team-building through fun group activities.
Planning a company offsite should be a yearly occurrence for teams. They encourage creative thinking, and provide opportunities to strengthen team bonds. They also serve as effective induction experiences for new starters, and let team members talk to those in senior leadership that they might not usually engage with.
Company offsites have several key benefits for businesses and their teams, including:
Team building: Work offsites are strongly focused on communication and collaboration. Corporate retreats let you break down the barriers between teams and people who have never worked together. This opportunity for cross-team collaboration can help generate new ideas or solve business challenges in ways that may not have been considered before.
Engagement and morale: Company offsites, first and foremost, should be enjoyable, and an event that can be a valued addition to the corporate calendar. The atmosphere of an offsite should always be relaxed and open, allowing colleagues to connect outside of their usual workplace dynamics.
Networking and development: Networking isn’t reserved for connecting with people from other businesses; it’s also crucial within your team. Company offsites let workers mingle with others they may not have worked with before, they might discover new strengths that make them a perfect fit for an internal promotion or role change, or build relationships that make your work processes smoother.
Creativity: Getting away from the normfosters new perspectives, and if your team offsite includes traveling to a new town or city, then a brand-new outlook is assured. With the usual distractions of the regular workday far away, stepping out of the usual routine can stimulate new ideas and ways of thinking.
Employee wellbeing: Company offsites are a day (or days) that take your team away from the regular workplace and calendar, as well as office politics. These days should be treated as ‘safe spaces’ where issues and problems can be shared, identified, and, hopefully, solved. Setting time aside for an open, candid conversation with members of leadership can help employees feel seen, heard, and appreciated.
Employee appreciation: Planning a company offsite is no small undertaking, and the effort put into these days devoted to your teams is unlikely to go unnoticed. The more you invest in your team with days filled with meaningful workshops, talks, and social activities, the more appreciated your team can feel. With this in mind, running employee awards is a popular activity for offsite schedules, letting you share some well-deserved recognition.
Company offsites can last for a single day or up to a week. Ultimately, this will all be determined by your goals and your budget. It’s important to remember that, as exciting as offsites can be, they are essentially still work and time that people are taking away from their loved ones and regular commitments, so keep this in mind as you plan your full schedule.
It’s also common to end an offsite with a fun or leisure event, whether that’s a day for team members to take time for themselves and explore the area, or an evening party, so factor this into your overall timeline.
As exciting as offsites may be, they naturally involve a lot of admin. Here’s how to stay organized when it comes to planning a company offsite:
You should gather input from all over the business so your work offsite is as relevant as possible to every team. However, this can also mean that people quickly lose sight of processes, rules, and, crucially, budget constraints. A corporate travel program ensures that your team has a clear set of guidelines around business travel and planning, so every suggestion and activity can be aligned to business needs. Tripeden.com for Business’ travel policy builder is a valuable tool that can help you make these key documents for your organization.
Budget management should be carefully considered when it comes to planning work offsites. Corporate travel management is a delicate balance of budgeting and providing team members with a memorable experience, so consider things like unique accommodations to create distinct settings while managing costs. With Tripeden.com for Business, we list millions of properties so you can find the ideal fit for your team offsite, from classic hotels to villas and rental homes..
Easy travel for your team is vital to the overall success of your offsite, and the satisfaction of your team. Tripeden.com for Business also allows you to easily search and organise transport, including flights and rental cars.
Ensure the effectiveness of your offsite by setting goals early on. Is there a particular issue or area of the business you want to build on? If so, is this a team offsite that needs to involve the whole business, or just the team involved? Your aims for the trip are also key to determining how long they need to be and what activities you need to plan for.
Successful company offsites need buy-in from across the business. Whether it’s an anonymous survey, an open chat channel, or a suggestion box, find out what it is your employees want from their next away day, and see how you can tailor your offsite to make them feel heard and valued.
Diversity and inclusion is a crucial part of any modern workplace, and that needs to apply to your travel plans. Keep the following in mind as you look for your next work offsite destination:
Is the location you have in mind safe for all team members, including female team members, people of colour, or members of the LGBTQ+ community?
Make sure your destination, accommodation, and method of travel are accessible to team members with disabilities, both seen and unseen.
Whether it's parents needing to arrange childcare or team members celebrating religious holidays, make sure your plans aren’t restrictive to your employees’ daily lives. While it might seem appealing to jet off to another country for a week, this might be untenable for those with personal commitments.
There are also several common issues to avoid to make sure that your offsite is a success:
Down time: employees can feel like they’re required to be constantly engaged at offsites, which can ultimately lead to burnout. Make sure you build downtime into your schedule, whether that’s giving people time for themselves every evening or taking whole days off between several days of work and socials.
Not utilising your destination: Gifting employees the chance to travel can be a huge boost to morale, but unforgiving schedules can mitigate any positive impact. Provide opportunities to explore and experience your location while also avoiding setting up your days in meeting rooms. Similarly, remember that planning a company offsite is to break away from the normal, and any settings or cultural opportunities should be seen as a way to enhance the experience.
Not realizing everyone is different: Diverse personality types including introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts make up modern teams. With that in mind, plan your activities based on varying strengths and different energy levels. Yes, these days are about collaboration, but they’re also about learning about each other and respecting the differences in your team that ultimately make you stronger. One way to do this can be to have mandatory and optional hours throughout the day, so if anyone feels like they need an hour’s break to themselves, they can step away without disruption.
Planning a company offsite can be made easy with a travel management tool. Tripeden.com for Business has everything you need to plan travel for your team. Get full visibility over team bookings and savings, all while having easy oversight and tracking of the budget, so your next offsite can be booked with ease.
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