Workforce Report | Socialization at Work

It is the time of year when our thoughts turn to relishing the warm days of summer and the blue skies we Ohioans enjoy! As summer kicks in and vacations are planned, the workplace can also offer opportunities for team building and engaging the staff.

In order to create experiences that people appreciate, take the step of surveying your team to gather their input and support. Do they prefer happy hours, or alcohol free outings? A day at the ballpark or bonding over breaking free in an Escape Room?

When I was child, my father worked in a factory that employed more than 2000 of the 12,000 people who called this small town “home.”  Each summer, the company hosted an all day picnic and outing for the workers and their families. It was an annual event we all looked forward to and fond memories remain of potato sack races, hot dogs on the grill and bonfires lasting into the cool of a summer night.

Though the company “picnic” or outing may have lost some of its charm and appeal over the last two decades, there are a number of benefits to keeping events like those company picnics alive in one way or another. Obviously, they don’t have to be actual picnics, but the idea of getting everyone together with as few hurdles as possible should be maintained.

What are you doing this year to promote cohesion and team bonding in your workplace? Share your ideas with us, as we continue to feature best practices of local business community.

Kelly Fuller 
Vice President of Talent & Workforce Development 
KellyFuller@columbus.org