Company culture plays a huge role at Castle. In our opinion, taking time to focus on employee engagement, team morale, and simply enjoying each other’s company is essential to creating a best place to work. We also think it’s important to remind staff how thankful we are for their hard work and perseverance—especially after what we’ve endured through the height of the global pandemic.
The fast-paced nature of our work does not always allow us to sit back, relax, and enjoy each other’s company, so we have a committee in place to make sure Castle culture stays a priority. The opportunities to show gratitude through bonding are endless. Here are a few ideas we’ve implemented over the years.
Health & Wellness
Health and wellness activities are a great way to fuel your team—and bond. Founder of ErgoPlus, Mark Middlesworth argues that “healthy employees are your most valuable asset; creating and fostering the safety and health culture at your company will lead to better human performance for your organization.” Take care of your team with:
- On-site yoga
- Stretch breaks
- Chair massages
- Book club
- Ergonomic assessments
- Health-focused potlucks
- Guest speakers (e.g., invite your healthcare provider to outline company benefits for mental health)
Community Outreach
With our busy schedules, we don’t often allocate time to focus on our immediate surroundings. Volunteering is another great way for your team to bond and give back to your community. Here are a few ideas that are easy to execute and create a positive impact.
- Volunteer at a local food pantry
- Organize a trash pick-up at a nearby park or beach
- Collect and assemble care packages (in or out of the office)
- run a donation drive at your office
The Castle Group recently spent an afternoon at client The Greater Boston Food Bank packaging boxes of food for families in need. Our team had an amazing time bonding while also doing something meaningful.
Fun Festivities
We spend so much of our days together working. It’s important to get to know each other on a deeper level. The following ideas create an atmosphere conducive to bonding and playfulness:
- Sponsor a happy hour (in or outside of the office)
- Host a painting class
- Play like a kid (laser tag or go-karting)
A little friendly competition can be fun, too. Castle’s 25th anniversary kickball tournament can attest to that!
Tips!
Make your event more personal by serving a company-themed cocktail or snack. Plan a special ice breaker or game to encourage mingling among departments.
During Castle’s most recent get-together, we played a custom game of Clue and had an awesome time learning about one another and hearing what everyone is up to outside of the office. Check out our Instagram for some snapshots from the evening.
In Closing
Showing appreciation to your employees facilitates cohesiveness and productivity in the workplace. Now that many of us are back together, in-person and remotely, it is important to take advantage of the time we lost. Find ways to give your employees time to bond and celebrate one another. It’s a win-win for everyone!
