Do the words “team building” cause a collective eyeroll among your employees? It’s probably time for a reboot. Here are a few ideas to spark your imagination, from Forbes and other sources:
Give back: Play with dogs at an animal shelter, help build a Habitat for Humanity home, or sing at a nursing home.
Play games: Have board games available during lunch breaks, or get together for trivia night or another activity at a local restaurant or bar.
Bring fun to work: Your employees might enjoy an old-school field day with relay races and a tug-of-war. Or host a trivia contest at work with questions like “What show does Bradley always talk about?”
Go for a thrill: Consider rock climbing, ziplining, snow sledding, whitewater rafting—but make it something your employees would be excited to try. While this is a bigger investment, it might be worth it for a special activity. Want to measure if your team building was a success? According to Forbes, if there was laughter, a feeling of excitement and accomplishment, and maybe a few selfies on Instagram, then you’re on the right track.
Money is the No. 1 worry for a whopping 91% of employees, according to the 2024 Wellness Barometer study. And 1 in 3 employees say that stressing about their finances affects their productivity at work, adds PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Consider adding a financial wellness program as an employee benefit. At its most simple, it could include:
Financial education: Topics could include how to make a budget, how to save for retirement, how to manage debt, and understanding credit cards, says workplace safety and compliance expert HSI. Since you already do employee training, add these in. Or look into simple handouts, online classes, or lunch-and-learns with local experts.
Reassessing the benefits you offer: How’s your health care coverage? Does your 401(k) include payroll deductions to make it easier to manage? Are you able to do an employer match? Do you offer life insurance or disability insurance? •