It can be difficult to build camaraderie and a sense of team when your employees are mostly (or totally) working from home. “It’s hard for a lot of people who are working from home to build those relationships and maintain them,” explained Erika, 4imprint’s internal events and communications manager. There are no spontaneous water cooler chats or other chances to interact in person with each other, even for just a few minutes. Video chats and meetings can help, but there are other ways your company can build back that pre-pandemic sense of family and unity.
This past year, Erika has been busy coordinating off- and on-site events and perks, like employee giveaways, to help keep the company’s more than 1,500 employees smiling and feeling they’re part of the company’s success. Here, she offers many insights into the challenge of helping work-from-home and on-site employees feel closer to each other and the company. Be sure to watch her video for more great ideas.
Link: Employee Connections Video
Go big for reconnection
Consider a large company event to bring everyone together outside of working hours. Rent a banquet hall, bring in the caterers, and put out a prize wheel and photo booth.
This year, 4imprint current and recently retired staff reconnected at a huge event Erika took the helm on. With no major gathering of team members since the beginning of the pandemic, it was wonderful to have more than 800 employees (about half the total staff) fill a rented airplane hangar and the EAA Aviation Museum. They enjoyed two bands, multiple buffets, drink areas, pub-style and tabletop games, prize tables, and catching up.
Gatherings big and small
You don’t have to go big to get team members together. The only trick, Erika said, is to figure out “how to get together with people without being in the building.”
Try smaller events interspersed throughout the year, like a baseball game and tailgate party or 5K run/walk for employees and their family members. Hand out promotional products with your logo to fit the occasion, like a baseball stress reliever or Refresh® water bottle and other employee giveaways. Erika has coordinated events like these with great turnouts. Fit your gatherings to your staff size and budget—no matter how, everyone will enjoy the feeling of family and unity.
Partner with community locations for the win-win
Enlist local venues—such as restaurants, sports arenas, food trucks and banquet halls—for your staff events. Not only can they help with some of the heavy lifting, but they will benefit too: They’ll see increased revenue and new customers. “We build a lot of relationships with these places and try to help them out and grow,” Erika said.
Consider providing co-branded promotional goodies to hand out. Put your logo and an eatery’s logo on snack mix bags for a reminder of your event and where it took place.
Department parties and on-site ideas
With large companies, like 4imprint, it can be easier to have departmental parties rather than whole-company events, especially during the holidays. Managers can invite team members to dinners at more upscale restaurants. Or bring a food truck on-site, and give them a longer break to enjoy free delicious cuisine and fresh air. In addition to or instead of dining, Erika suggests bowling, one-session art classes, ax throwing and mini-golf. Consider presenting each guest with a higher-value gift, such as a laptop bag or vacuum mug, to take home as a reminder of the outing.
Events and employee giveaway ideas that help build connections
However you choose to get team members together in person, make sure venues are easy to drive to, and provide plenty of pre-event information so everyone knows when and where to go. Employees will appreciate all the efforts taken to organize the event. “People are really appreciating seeing each other,” Erika said. “The reward is seeing that people are having good connections again.”