Corporate Entertainment: How to Combine Work and Fun to Improve Productivity

Structuring corporate entertainment options that appeal to all employees can seem tricky, but is a worthwhile investment for improving engagement, innovation, productivity, and bottom lines. In this article, we'll explore some ideas to liven up the workplace and bring teams together.

Team Building Activities

Participating in group activities helps employees get to know each other better and bond over shared novel experiences outside their normal roles. These activities encourage communication, problem-solving, leadership, and creativity in a casual environment. Consider hosting friendly competitions like scavenger hunts, talent shows, trivia, sports tournaments, or Amazing Race style challenges. Break larger teams into smaller groups that mix up departments to maximize exposure to new colleagues. Rotate teammates each event so that connections continue building wider across the company over time. Reward participation with small prizes like gift cards, extra PTO, or public recognition to keep the energy fun and positive.

Themed Events

Everyone loves an excuse to be silly and let loose. Hosting themed events adds an element of surprise and excitement to the office. Decorate communal spaces with outrageous flare and encourage people to really get into costumes and provided props. Better yet, form a party planning committee from diverse departments to unleash their creativity on event themes and activities. Whether it's a Hawaiian luau, country hoedown, superhero day, mad science fair, or holiday celebration, go all out. Have snacks, music, photo ops, contests, wacky interoffice memos, and themed ice breaker games on hand so everyone joins the spirit. The laughter and playfulness lifts moods company-wide.

Game Tournaments

A little friendly competition goes a long way toward building camaraderie and blowing off steam. Set up videogame consoles, pool tables, ping pong, foosball, air hockey, Pop-A-Shot basketball, card/board game stations, or gaming lounges for people to test their skills against coworkers after hours or during long lunches. Consider securing access to PayPal casino sites or online entertainment portals where employees can play interactive trivia, arcade, casino or puzzle games at their own pace for mental breaks. Variety ensures all interests are covered. Host league nights or tournaments for bragging rights. Offering regular recreational game times makes sure no one feels left out of the social fun and gives something to look forward to beyond daily deadlines.

Fun Evenings Out

Scheduling outings to events promoting community, learning, or cultural experiences provides alternative fun shared among coworkers. Tickets to popular shows, concerts, festivals, sporting events, movies, museums, zoos, arcade/gaming centers, or plays offer entertainment options suiting any interest employees wish to further explore together. If budgets allow, summer company picnic catered dinners at outdoor music venues take relaxing evenings up an extra notch. Alternatively, subsidize a set number of tickets monthly and allow employees to organize outings leveraging that allowance however they decide by vote.

The agency in choosing appeals to diverse tastes so you can make sure not to leave anyone out. Attending recreational events sparks conversation from fresh perspectives as opposed to merely work projects. Bonus points if the excursion includes some health movement like walking around museums or dancing at a concert. By focusing an evening's shared experience onto one cultural event, connections strengthen while exposure to arts and ideas furthers personal growth. Regardless of the activity chosen, dedicating non-work time to enjoy one another's company re-energizes workplace friendships.

Relaxing Spaces

Create casual lounge areas for employees to connect during breaks. Potted plants, artificial greenery, abstract art, beanbag chairs, massage chairs, soothing music/scents, magazines, healthy snacks or coffee go a long way toward helping people decompress in a non-traditional setting. Encourage openly using these spaces for quiet meditation, screen-free mingling, reading, playing board games, or just relaxing. Provide resources on stress management, mindfulness practices, or chair massages during periodic "mental health days" as added incentives to use the spaces. Having areas solely dedicated to relaxing and socializing empowers people to rejuvenate their energy and supports overall wellness.

Combining work and entertainment allows balance essential for innovation, quality output, and dedication over the long term. Experiment with various shared activities and identify what resonates most with your teams. Invest time scheduling regular interactive experiences to keep the atmosphere uplifting, employees creatively stimulated, collaborative, and the company thriving. Most importantly, have fun! Laughter, surprise, and playfulness are contagious mood-boosters everyone benefits from.