Company outings

Company picnics are a real good way to get to know your co-workers and their families. You just might make some new friends.

I don't know how much it motivates but I know it brings us closer together and we get to meet their families. We have one in the summer and one at Christmas. We also may get together throughout the year if something interesting comes up and we give them the option to participate.

Bad idea! F*** this! I would rather be given additional time off to go on my own outing...if that's what I choose to do!

We spend enough of our life at work...why spend more time with our co-workers? I'd rather be doing what I want to do during my time away from work.

I think this tool is an excellent way to form team concepts and motivate employees. Simply giving days off allows the employee to serve their own purpose but a company outing brings employees together like a family- a team. Depending on the type of outing many employees will walk away feeling appreciated. Microsoft is the model that all should aspire. Olympics, golf outings, simple picnics are all strong tools in formulating positive team morale and motivating the staff.

Bad motivator, but is sure funny to see the staff drunks and sluts put on great shows. I try not to miss the Xmas party for sheer entertainment value. . .but it's not motivational in any way.

. . . I don't particularly like any of my co-workers enough to want to hang out with them outside of work.

I've only been on a couple of these - both were bore fests. I can think of thousands of things to do with my time off and none of them involve spending even more time with people I see every day or listening to their brats scream for attention.

I can't stand company outings. For me, they're not morale builders - they're morale killers. The problem with using company outings as a 'treat' for employees is that they hinge on the misconception that employees have no life outside of work. That a trip to Dave & Busters, on my time, with people that are not necessarily my friends, is better than anything I could do be doing on my own. For the most part, I'd rather take a nap.

Couldn't agree with axlrod more. I took this job to make money. I had friends already. Granted I have no problem if the outing takes place during company hours. If mgmt wants the damn outing then they can pay me for it. Take us to a sporting event or out for lunch, yeah I'm down. I'll admit I got suckered into coming to after work dinner or cocktail get togethers but I more or less show my face and take off. Last Wednesday though I stood my ground. The cfo gave my department a half-day because we were moving to another floor. Some moron gets the idea to have a company picnic with the time off. I'm gonna spend my free time with everyone from work? No thanks. I called Keli and went to the beach. And when I was asked why I wasn't at the picnic I said Because it was a half-day. Generally people responded with a rather depressed oh, like they hadn't been smart enough to realize that, and now that they have realized it they are pissed that they lost out on some free time. Cmon... Read more

Once in a blue moon, with the right people and the right amount of liquor, they're fun. But for the most part, they are to be avoided at all costs. At my present employer, I have totally given up going out for lunch. I just got totally sick and tired of THE SUIT announcing to everyone in the party that I was paying for lunch [EVERY FREAKIN' TIME]. Then THE SUIT monopolizes the conversation by sharing a nice hour-long BORING sea story (one I just heard that morning). That sucks when you are at a buffet. Every year the Christmas party comes up, I tell THE SUIT that my wife was despondent over the recent death of our cat and we couldn't make it (we don't have a cat).

Company outings can be helpful for some, possibly breaking down some barriers that inhibit teamwork. But as for truly motivating an employee, you need a real connection between a desirable reward and the employee's efforts. Offering an expensive outing only to those who meet a productivity target might effectively motivate. However, most company outings are just unstructured opportunties to be social.