We all strive to have a joyful workplace. It’s not only good for employee well-being—research shows happy team members are also productive team members. What’s more, the collective emotional state of your organization’s team has a major impact on performance. A way to inspire more workplace joy is to create opportunities for employees to get together outside their normal workday routine. Adding surprise employee gifts to the mix can improve your chances of raising happiness levels among the group. Here are a few event ideas, coupled with creative gifts for employees, to help make that happen.
Plan a picnic or cookout
Nothing brings a group together like delicious food. Carve out part of a day to get outside and enjoy a meal, whether it be from a themed potluck, reserved food truck or classic cookout. A nearby park or green space would be an ideal setting, but a parking lot or conference room will work too.
Before everybody digs in, pair employees for games like ladder ball or giant tumble tower. These games can be raffled off as post-event gifts for employees. Set up a punch bowl as a refreshing beverage option and supply color-changing cups for employees to use and take home. Ensure there’s ample seating for mingling, with a picnic blanket as a versatile and portable seating option.
Host a team-building day
You might be familiar with how employees collaborate on work projects, but have you seen them work together facing the unique challenges and pressure of an escape room? That kind of team-building can be a lot of fun while also boosting problem-solving skills. Plan to visit an escape room or design your own for maximum team bonding! Use a magnet to reward employees who successfully escape or recognize their accomplishment with a crown to wear the rest of the day.
Team-building activities don’t need to be extravagant. Forming groups for a series of fun challenges—think “Minute to Win It”—can get people working together and laughing. Or organize workplace betterment projects, like spring cleaning or redecorating. This type of project comes with multiple benefits that create a better work environment. Give everyone a cleaning cloth and computer duster that they can put to good use.
Get together for happy hour
An after-work outing is a great way to gather employees in a relaxed environment. Start the day with a surprise gift, like a branded vest or hoodie, to give everyone a unified look.
Whether you’re planning a social happy hour, trivia or a karaoke night, people will feel more connected by the end of the evening. A trip to a paint-and-sip event is another fun outing that will get everyone’s creativity flowing. No matter what you organize, an employee gift, like a wine or pub glass, is a nice way to commemorate the occasion.
Organize a volunteer project
Rallying employees around an opportunity to do good in the community is hard to beat. Work with local municipalities, nonprofits or other organizations to see how a group of your size can help. Perhaps it’s raking or weeding in public green space or picking up trash near a body of water. Depending on the day, a bucket hat might be right for protection from weather conditions. Keep rakers or trash collectors hydrated by giving them a water bottle before the manual labor begins.
Some nonprofits and other organizations welcome volunteers to create hand-made cards for donors or clients, which is another chance to show a little artistic flare. Bring along snacks to treat your employees as they color and draw. Cap the event by thanking everyone with branded baseball caps.
Strong bonds make strong teams
With these event ideas, you can bring people together to strengthen bonds and have a little fun. By sprinkling in some creative gifts for employees, you can turn the happiness dial up another notch.