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Original poster

Team bonding event help needed

42 replies

Gobbins · 14/04/2023 12:56

A friend has started a new job and wants to impress. One of their first tasks is to arrange a team event for all 20ish employees. She has been told that coaches can be booked etc but not given an exact budget. The team varies in age and ability from 20s and very fit to 60s with health concerns. It can be a short lunch event or an evening or weekend event. We've came up with a list of usual ideas such as escape rooms, bowling, crazy golf, theme park etc but would love to hear your best experiences. We're based in the Midlands if that makes a difference.

OP posts:
Quveas · 14/04/2023 13:45

As a 60+ year old with disabilities, that all sounds like my worst nightmare. To be fair, I'd have probably said the same thing when I was 20! I'd consult with the actual team. What someone random here may love may be very different from what they like.

DriveDriveDrve · 14/04/2023 13:55

I have a Buckt subscription in Birmingham (basically it’s a subscription that gives you 5 random activities per month), so I’ve tried lots of activities in the midlands. One of my favourite activities was a ‘paint along’ event we did. I’m definitely not artistic, but they literally took us through step by step and we got to keep our artwork. Bit different to your usual team building! We did paint boobs, but they do safe for work options too 😂

https://museandmimosas.co.uk/

museandmimosas

museandmimosas

https://museandmimosas.co.uk/

maddy68 · 14/04/2023 14:33

Definitely not outside work hours. My weekends are mine and that pressure to do something outside of work would put me right off

Escape rooms are always good but make sure this is during work hours.

Otherwise arrange something like a chef to come into work and prepare a nice lunch

swanling · 14/04/2023 16:45

Quveas · 14/04/2023 13:45

As a 60+ year old with disabilities, that all sounds like my worst nightmare. To be fair, I'd have probably said the same thing when I was 20! I'd consult with the actual team. What someone random here may love may be very different from what they like.

Yep, asking and then listening to the team members will be more effective than imposing something. Enforced fun is never that fun.

Personally, I would be declining an invitation to give up my weekend to spend it "bonding" with colleagues. Relationships aren't built in a day anyway.

Anything that's done should happen in work time and be accessible to everyone. ("Escape rooms" are not a good idea for a work activity unless people are free to decline without consequences.)

A lunch with space to chat is perfectly fine.

Notanothernewname · 14/04/2023 18:07

I organise this sort of thing for my team. No weekends, not too late, and you need to find something most would like.

I think lunch then pub for those who want after always work. If the boss puts his hand in his pocket for drinks that's always nice as well.

It's hard to find an activity. I'm trying to think of something for a summer social, but that's one of our bigger events with a bigger budget.

Quveas · 14/04/2023 18:35

Notanothernewname · 14/04/2023 18:07

I organise this sort of thing for my team. No weekends, not too late, and you need to find something most would like.

I think lunch then pub for those who want after always work. If the boss puts his hand in his pocket for drinks that's always nice as well.

It's hard to find an activity. I'm trying to think of something for a summer social, but that's one of our bigger events with a bigger budget.

Yeah, my team tend to go for simple. Lunch monthly ( and in works time not their own), a summer day out to a pub / restaurant (an all day event, sit and chat or walking or whatever), and Christmas meal in the early evening. Nobody is expected to go to anything. Everyone does go, because they want to. No pressure. No expectations.

FinallyHere · 14/04/2023 18:43

Lunch in work time with cover arranged so everyone can join in.

No penalty for not turning up but ask the team what it would take to get everyone to join in and listen to what they say.

So early in a new joiners career, might it really be an exercise to see how she goes about it?

Lots of clarifying objectives, agree learning outcomes and key success measures working with stakeholders and all.that.jazz. It was the absence of clear budget that made me suspicious. Do get the budget clarified, at least as a range between min and absolute max.

In which case, a bit of consultation ok but ensure there is a clear cut off point and when to decide.

handmademitlove · 14/04/2023 18:51

Depending on where you are, a volunteering opportunity such as clearing a memorial garden has a point to it so feels less contrived in a way - more team work and less 'enforced jollity'!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 14/04/2023 23:02

Agreed, nothing out of hours. You have no idea how carefully balanced someone's domestic commitments might be.

Nothing physical - not even a walk or clearing a beauty spot, which would discriminate against those less able.

Lunch needs a focus, problem solving is a possibility, but you couldn't pay me to do an Escape Room.

Mykittensmittens · 14/04/2023 23:08

I’ve done a few too.

1 - we did ‘would I lie to you’ quiz, went for a meal after - this really went down well

2 - did a short sundown walk with a tour guide of said city - like a ghost walk

3 - did an indoors bear grylls thing in b’ham which wasn’t actually that physical and fine

4 - indoors mini adventure golf which I thought would be cringey but it absolutely wasn’t - most cities have them

5 - cocktails mixology thing - was okay too

Stardustkid · 14/04/2023 23:08

The only thing we’ve ever done that everyone attended was a lunchtime barbecue.

SpikyHatePotato · 14/04/2023 23:10

And not a pub - there must be some non- drinkers, be that for religious, health, addiction reasons, or just personal choice.

Check out the Ask A Manager blog, she's got plenty to say about team building activities.

What actually builds a team is good pay, sufficient staff, clear and achievable objectives, effective leadership and regular appropriate feedback.

Osina · 14/04/2023 23:18

Flight Club works for everyone, every age. Go for an afternoon!

Osina · 14/04/2023 23:20

Quveas · 14/04/2023 18:35

Yeah, my team tend to go for simple. Lunch monthly ( and in works time not their own), a summer day out to a pub / restaurant (an all day event, sit and chat or walking or whatever), and Christmas meal in the early evening. Nobody is expected to go to anything. Everyone does go, because they want to. No pressure. No expectations.

Show quote history

When you say lunch in work’s time and not their own - do they still get their actual lunch break to spend as they wish in addition to going on the team lunch?

Notanothernewname · 15/04/2023 08:57

Osina · 14/04/2023 23:20

When you say lunch in work’s time and not their own - do they still get their actual lunch break to spend as they wish in addition to going on the team lunch?

Show quote history

Never have I come across the whole negative attitude about work socials or colleagues are not friends other than on mumsnet.

If people don't want to give up their lunch time for a free lunch then they just don't go and they go do whatever they wanted to do in their lunch break.

BeetleBailey · 15/04/2023 09:12

#forcedfun

strawberry2017 · 15/04/2023 09:28

A short lunch during working hours would be most people's preference. It's the least horrendous option.
People hate forced fun.

swanling · 15/04/2023 09:35

So early in a new joiners career, might it really be an exercise to see how she goes about it?

Agree.

MuddlingThroughLife · 15/04/2023 09:42

I love a work social! I work in the NHS so it's in our own time though, either after work or on the weekendand we pay for ourselves! We have so far done:

  1. Poledancing followed by pub.
  1. Escape room followed by pub.
  1. 2 nights in Amsterdam.
  1. Nandos, then indoor crazy golf followed by pub.
  1. Bottomless brunch followed by pub.
  1. Out for tea followed by roller skating.

Our next event is a night out bowling, playing pool and finishing off with karaoke and drinking.

We seem to spend a lot of time in the pub lol 😆

We also have random meals out and always a Christmas doo or two.

We have lots of things on a list to do that we are slowly crossing off. We are planning in October to go pottery painting which is also a BYOB event where we are all planning on painting mugs as Christmas gifts for our consultants. This will probably be followed by food and drinks.

AlisonDonut · 15/04/2023 09:45

Why are you getting involved?

Your friends needs to find out the budget to start with, and then to ask her 20 colleagues what they would want to do. Sort out a poll, or go ask them. This task is for her to involve the team and find out information, not ask a friend to ask on Mumsnet.

MuddlingThroughLife · 15/04/2023 09:46

MuddlingThroughLife · 15/04/2023 09:42

I love a work social! I work in the NHS so it's in our own time though, either after work or on the weekendand we pay for ourselves! We have so far done:

  1. Poledancing followed by pub.
  1. Escape room followed by pub.
  1. 2 nights in Amsterdam.
  1. Nandos, then indoor crazy golf followed by pub.
  1. Bottomless brunch followed by pub.
  1. Out for tea followed by roller skating.

Our next event is a night out bowling, playing pool and finishing off with karaoke and drinking.

We seem to spend a lot of time in the pub lol 😆

We also have random meals out and always a Christmas doo or two.

We have lots of things on a list to do that we are slowly crossing off. We are planning in October to go pottery painting which is also a BYOB event where we are all planning on painting mugs as Christmas gifts for our consultants. This will probably be followed by food and drinks.

Oh, we've also spent a night wild camping in bell tents with portaloos where we went on a hike, had a bbq, toasted marshmallows and shockingly had a drink or three.

Osina · 15/04/2023 10:18

Notanothernewname · 15/04/2023 08:57

Never have I come across the whole negative attitude about work socials or colleagues are not friends other than on mumsnet.

If people don't want to give up their lunch time for a free lunch then they just don't go and they go do whatever they wanted to do in their lunch break.

Show quote history

I love a good work social @Notanothernewname. So not sure why you have said that?

@Quveas' post intrigued me as she said that the monthly lunch was in "work's time and not their own." So I wondered if this was really true. Do her colleagues genuinely get their unpaid 30/60 minute lunch break in which to do as they please - and then the work lunch is held in work time after this?

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 15/04/2023 10:22

If people don't want to give up their lunch time for a free lunch then they just don't go and they go do whatever they wanted to do in their lunch break.

Not much of a team build though!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 15/04/2023 10:27

MuddlingThroughLife · 15/04/2023 09:42

I love a work social! I work in the NHS so it's in our own time though, either after work or on the weekendand we pay for ourselves! We have so far done:

  1. Poledancing followed by pub.
  1. Escape room followed by pub.
  1. 2 nights in Amsterdam.
  1. Nandos, then indoor crazy golf followed by pub.
  1. Bottomless brunch followed by pub.
  1. Out for tea followed by roller skating.

Our next event is a night out bowling, playing pool and finishing off with karaoke and drinking.

We seem to spend a lot of time in the pub lol 😆

We also have random meals out and always a Christmas doo or two.

We have lots of things on a list to do that we are slowly crossing off. We are planning in October to go pottery painting which is also a BYOB event where we are all planning on painting mugs as Christmas gifts for our consultants. This will probably be followed by food and drinks.

Sounds like an absolute nightmare for anyone with any kind of childcare/caring responsibilities or mobility issues. The weekend away is particularly alienating to anyone with childcare/caring responsibilities - the nature of a team build should not exclude anyone. (If they choose not to come, that's different, but the team build should be accessible to all, or it does the opposite of what it's meant to).

Greenfairydust · 15/04/2023 10:33

These events are usually silly and of no use whatsoever and certainly not something people would want to waste their weekends/evenings on...

That won't ''impress'' anyone.

Keep it simple and make it during work hours.