In today’s world of remote and hybrid work, fostering a connected team and culture is more important than ever. A connected work culture helps retain top talent and produce the best possible work for our clients. And frankly, it just aligns with who we say we are.
For over a decade, our team has taken an annual trip we call Workcation. It’s been a game changer for our culture and helps us stay connected.
In the early years, we’d take spouses and kids, but as our team has progressed to a more diversified age group, we’ve found taking the team member plus a spouse or significant other has been the right balance.
In this blog post, we will explore the compelling reasons why organizations should consider adding something like workcation to their strategic goals.
Refreshed and Recharged Employees:
By providing an annual workcation, companies give their team members a chance to recharge their batteries and rejuvenate their enthusiasm. Taking a break from the usual office environment and engaging in new experiences fosters relaxation, reduces burnout, and prevents stress buildup.
When employees return from a workcation, they bring renewed energy and a fresh perspective to their work, leading to increased productivity and creativity. It’s a win-win situation where employees benefit from a well-deserved break, and companies enjoy the advantages of having a workforce that is revitalized and ready to tackle new challenges.
Strengthened Team Bonding:
An annual workcation provides an excellent opportunity for team members to bond in a relaxed and informal setting. Away from the pressures of daily work tasks, employees can engage in team-building activities, share experiences, and foster meaningful connections.
Building stronger relationships among colleagues enhances communication, trust, and collaboration when they return to the office. The shared memories and experiences from a workcation create a sense of camaraderie, resulting in a more cohesive and supportive team dynamic.
Enhanced Creativity and Innovation:
A change of environment can inspire fresh ideas and spur creativity. Taking team members out of their usual workspaces and immersing them in a different setting stimulates new ways of thinking.
Exposure to diverse cultures, landscapes, and experiences during a workcation sparks creativity and innovation. Employees can bring back these newfound perspectives to their roles, leading to improved problem-solving skills and more innovative approaches to challenges.
An annual workcation can serve as a catalyst for out-of-the-box thinking, propelling the company forward in an ever-evolving market.
Employee Retention and Satisfaction:
Treating employees to an annual workcation is a powerful way to demonstrate appreciation and value for their hard work and dedication. It contributes to a positive work culture that prioritizes employee well-being, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction and increased loyalty.
When employees feel cared for and recognized, they are more likely to stay with the company long-term, reducing turnover rates. The positive word-of-mouth generated by workcations can also enhance the organization’s reputation, making it an employer of choice for prospective candidates.
An annual workcation offers numerous benefits for both employees and the company as a whole. By providing team members with the opportunity to unwind, bond, and gain new perspectives, companies can create a thriving work environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and job satisfaction.
Practical Advice & Application
So you might be considering, how this work as far as schedule and budget. It depends on a lot — like your current location, budget, team size, etc. — but we can share a few ideas that have worked for us in the past:
- Renting a Beach, Lake, or Mountain House (or houses)
- We’ve done this multiple years and find it to be the most intimate and connected time, but it requires more planning for food and activities that are already included in the next two ideas.
- All-inclusive Resorts
- This can be great, like a cruise and maybe be accessible depending on your location (we’re fortunate to live in Florida and have our team located here, so it makes this kind of thing a little more affordable than it would if they were all over the country).
- Cruises
- This was our most recent workcation (and one we’ve done two other years as well). It’s easy because everything is included. We keep it simple and do a 3-4 night cruise where the only “required” team activity is dinner each night and one excursion of some sort. In years past, we rented a boat to take us to a private island and hang out. More recently, we upgraded our access to the Coco Cay Island Beach Club that Royal Caribbean stops.
Is it expensive to do this? Yes. But how expensive is it to not? What’s the cost of a disconnected team or having to replace people all the time?
Is it fun? YES!
How does it work with everyone’s preferences? Ultimately, you have to make some of those decisions based on your team, but in our experience, most folks don’t complain about a free vacation. Just include lots of extra free time to account for people who may be more on the introverted side.
Investing in the well-being of employees not only improves their overall performance but also contributes to a positive company culture and boosts employee retention rates. The annual workcation serves as a powerful tool for rejuvenating the workforce and driving long-term success.
Have questions? Feel free to connect with our team for more details or to get further ideas.
If you do a workcation for your team, we’d love to hear about it!
