Improving Workplace Relationships with Social Events – Covid Secure Edition

Positive workplace relationships are essential. If your employees have good relationships and friendships with their colleagues, they will be more engaged in the workplace and more likely to stay with your company for longer. Organising social events for your employees gives them a chance to have fun whilst encouraging positive workplace relationships.

Impact of Negative Workplace Relationships

Conflict in the workplace isn’t uncommon. The most common types of workplace conflict are caused by a clash in personalities, different working styles, a variety of educational, cultural, and religious backgrounds, and of course; a difference of opinions.

Unfortunately, negative workplace relationships can affect your employees and the business as a whole. They can create a strained atmosphere and stressful working environment. If your employees don’t get on with their fellow colleagues, it will affect their health and wellbeing at home and at work. Your employees won’t be as motivated or productive and it will begin to affect their work.

Benefits of Positive Workplace Relationships

A workplace with positive relationships is a happy workplace. By encouraging friendships within the workplace, you can improve your business and boost the well-being of your staff. Here are some of the benefits of positive workplace relationships:

• Builds trust between employees
• Encourages employees to communicate openly
• Encourages employees to help each other in the workplace
• Increases employee motivation
• Boosts workplace productivity and creativity
• Reduces stress amongst employees
• Creates a positive atmosphere
• Boosts employee morale
• Positive workplace relationships can improve workplace health and wellbeing

Fun Social Event Ideas – Covid Secure Edition

If you have returned to the office to work, you will know that a socially distanced office doesn’t quite feel the same. Some people in our network have started to call this the ‘anti-social office’.

So how can you ensure that a COVID safe office still feels social? Here are some ideas we have put together: 

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1. Team Breakfast

You don’t even have to leave the office for this one! Instead, get the team together, perhaps on the first or last working day of the month. You could provide a healthy breakfast or order in from a nearby food outlet. A team breakfast will give everyone a chance to catch up and boost employee morale before the day begins.

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2. Get outside, get moving

It’s official, Summer is here! This means your employees will be keen to get outside how ever they can. For the sporty types in your company, try creating a challenge or competition with a reward-based incentive. You could also set up a fundraising challenge for the company to get involved in.

Here are a few apps you can try:

1. NIKE RUN CLUB
2. PANTHEON
3. STRAVA 
4. MY VIRTUAL MISSION

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3. Picnic in the Park 

If you don’t have your own outdoor space large enough to host your employees, head to the park for a picnic. Have employees bring their own blanket and snacks to make sure everyone stays six feet apart. If you’re looking to plan a physical activity, swap high contact sports for field games where distance can be maintained like frisbee, croquet, or bean bag toss. Just make sure to have players use hand sanitiser before touching the equipment. (The rule of 30 applies to meeting outdoors). 

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4. Embrace Virtual Activities

It is important to ensure that every employee feels included. While we know that online quizzes and virtual chats became very tiresome quickly, we also remember that it is a good way of keeping remote employees engaged.

We have some recommendations on virtual apps which we think you are your team may enjoy!

1. Quiz Breaker
2. Pysch!
3. ClueGo

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5. Make people feel at home

In entering a ‘new normal’ of work, it’s important to be aware of the changes when selecting benefits or treats for your employees. Providing a more personal experience will not only boost their morale but show how invested you are as an employer in their well-being.

These simple gestures go a long way in making your company a safe and supportive space.

Everyone will have their own preferences, but by supporting what your employees love, they will find the office a far more comfortable place to be. Some of the initiatives we have recently seen include:

• Company-wide lunches (paid for, or subsidised!)
• Company-wide discounts on gig tickets, music nights, and club nights
• A podcast or book club
• Access to yoga, wellness, or exercise classes
• Coffee discounts for workmate catch-ups
• Access to art classes, think life-drawing, pottery or painting

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Looking to the future 

As Covid restrictions start to lift (fingers crossed for the 19^th July) organisations can take the opportunity to arrange other activities to bring the team together. All in all, building positive employee relationships with social events is key to longevity and happiness in the workplace.